Origin
Trail Creek, IN
Late night in Trail Creek on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Trail Creek, IN to South Bend, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
39.1 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trail Creek, IN
Istvan Gerenyi
South Bend, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 39.2-mile drive from Trail Creek to South Bend, Indiana, is a quick 44-minute trip perfect for a single day. You'll primarily navigate local roads like Robin Trail, Wren Place, and Cardinal Drive, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is a budget-friendly $6. Given its brief duration and local road profile, this route is ideal for a spontaneous outing rather than requiring an overnight stay. It's a straightforward connection within the Midwest, making it an easy addition to any regional travel plans.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 26.9 mi | 28m |
| US 20 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| North Michigan Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| East Michigan Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| SR 39 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Johnson Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Cardinal Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Robin Trail | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Indiana Toll Road
— 26.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Trail Creek, IN and South Bend, IN.
1
Start on Whipporwill Avenue
156 ft
·
9 sec
·
Whipporwill Avenue
2
Turn right onto Robin Trail
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Robin Trail
3
Turn slight left onto Wren Place
303 ft
·
13 sec
·
Wren Place
4
Turn left onto Cardinal Drive
340 ft
·
15 sec
·
Cardinal Drive
5
Keep slight right at fork onto Cardinal Drive
502 ft
·
23 sec
·
Cardinal Drive
6
Turn left onto Johnson Road
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Johnson Road
7
Turn sharp right onto East Michigan Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Michigan Boulevard
8
Continue on US 20
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 20
9
Turn right onto SR 39
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 39
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
12
Merge onto I 80; I 90
27 mi
·
28 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
13
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward SR 933, BUS US 31: South Bend, Notre Dame
14
Turn right onto SR 933
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Michigan Street
15
Enter roundabout onto SR 933; BUS US 31
156 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Michigan Street
16
Continue on SR 933; BUS US 31
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Michigan Street
17
Turn left onto East Navarre Street
131 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Navarre Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Navarre Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from Trail Creek, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 36 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Robin Trail
Turn right onto Robin Trail
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cardinal Drive
Turn left onto Cardinal Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Cardinal Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto Cardinal Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East Michigan Boulevard
Turn sharp right onto East Michigan Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
36 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward SR 933, BUS US 31: South Bend, Notre Dame
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 933, BUS US 31: South Bend, Notre Dam...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.11 one way
$12.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.71 | $13.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.52 | $15.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.63 | $17.27 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.89
Indiana Toll Road
(26.9 mi)
$1.89
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
South Bend, IN
Morning in South Bend on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Lake Park, IN
20 mi in
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this entire 39.2-mile journey, as indicated by its 0% highway share. The route is characterized by its frequent turns, suggesting a winding path through local neighborhoods and towns rather than open, straight stretches. There isn't a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving, meaning you'll be consistently engaged with steering and navigation. This profile indicates a more intimate experience with the landscape and community as you travel, rather than a fast-paced transit.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.9 mi on Indiana Toll Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Robin Trail.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Robin Trail): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Cardinal Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Cardinal Drive): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Trail Creek, IN and South Bend, IN, road signs point toward Bus Us 31: South Bend and Notre Dame.
Bus Us 31: South Bend
36 mi in
|
~43m
Notre Dame
36 mi in
|
~43m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 39.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.9 miles on Indiana Toll Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.89 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at South Bend, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Robin Trail): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Cardinal Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Cardinal Drive): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Bend, IN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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