This 82.1-mile journey from Union, Indiana to Terre Haute, Indiana is a straightforward, one-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 35 minutes to complete. You'll be navigating primarily on local roads, with no highway driving involved, making it a more intimate exploration of the Midwest landscape. Budget around $12 for fuel for this relatively short distance. Given its manageable length, this route is perfect for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without the need for an overnight stay. It’s a simple, direct drive through the heart of Indiana.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from Union, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 41
72.4 mi
1h 32m
SR 56
7.8 mi
13m
North County Road 850 West
1.3 mi
5m
Trippet Road
0.5 mi
<1m
East 2nd Street
0.4 mi
<1m
East 1st Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Street
0.2 mi
<1m
South Mill Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 41
— 72.4 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, IN and Terre Haute, IN.
1
Start on SR 65
74 ft·6 sec·SR 65
2
Turn left onto North County Road 850 West
1.3 mi·5 min·North County Road 850 West
3
Turn left onto SR 56
3.6 mi·6 min·SR 56
4
At end of road, turn left onto SR 56
2.6 mi·4 min·SR 56
5
Turn left onto SR 56
0.3 mi·33 sec·SR 56
6
Continue on SR 56
0.5 mi·58 sec·Trippet Road
7
Turn left onto SR 56
0.4 mi·37 sec·East 2nd Street
8
Continue on SR 56
0.3 mi·39 sec·East 1st Street
9
Turn left onto SR 56
443 ft·11 sec·North Main Street
10
Turn right onto SR 56
469 ft·14 sec·West 2nd Street
11
Turn left onto SR 56
0.2 mi·17 sec·South Mill Street
12
Continue on SR 56
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto SR 56
1.3 mi·2 min·SR 56
14
Turn right onto US 41
16 mi·18 min·US 41
15
Take the exit onto US 41; US 150
56 mi·1 hr 13 min·US 41; US 150
Toward US 41 North, US 150: Terre HauteUse the straight lane.
16
Arrive at destination
US 41; US 150
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just 1 hour and 35 minutes, this route offers plenty of flexibility. Consider departing in the morning to make the most of your day, or leave later if you prefer a relaxed start. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is under 100 miles, fuel is unlikely to be a major concern, with an estimated cost of $12. Keep an eye on your navigation system for the frequent turns, especially as you transition from North County Road 850 West onto Trippet Road and eventually into Terre Haute on East 2nd Street. Enjoy the ease of a short drive where you can focus on the journey itself.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.6 miles from Union, IN, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Terre Haute, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union, IN
This is one driving day of about 83.3 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Union, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 41 for about 72.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 27.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North County Road 850 West
Turn left onto North County Road 850 West
Navigation decision point
5
9.1 mi into trip|~19m in|SR 56 / West 2nd Street
Turn right onto SR 56 / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
9.2 mi into trip|~19m in|SR 56 / South Mill Street
Turn left onto SR 56 / South Mill Street
Navigation decision point
5
9.6 mi into trip|~20m in|SR 56
At end of road, turn left onto SR 56
Navigation decision point
7
27.3 mi into trip|~41m in|US 41; US 150
Take the exit onto US 41; US 150 toward US 41 North, US 150: Terre Haute
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 41 North, US 150: Terre Haute
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.02 one way
$26.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.30
$28.60
premium
$4.89
$16.03
$32.06
diesel
$5.61
$18.39
$36.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.29
$3.33
EV Truck/SUV
33.3
0
$11.66
$5.33
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Union, IN
Late night
in Union on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Terre Haute, IN
Late night
in Terre Haute on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 12 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 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
1h 55m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 A.M., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of t...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 82.1-mile route, as it features a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not applicable as the profile indicates frequent turns. You'll be working your way through a series of county roads and local streets, including North County Road 850 West and Trippet Road, before entering Terre Haute via East 2nd Street. This isn't a high-speed cruise; rather, it's a more engaging drive where you'll be actively navigating through smaller communities and varied terrain.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.4 mi on US 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 41 and SR 56. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North County Road 850 West.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 55m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North County Road 850 West): Navigation decision point; at 9.1 miles (SR 56 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.2 miles (SR 56 / South Mill Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 83.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 72.4 miles on US 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (North County Road 850 West): Navigation decision point; at 9.1 miles (SR 56 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.2 miles (SR 56 / South Mill Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical 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 Terre Haute, IN before heading back.
