Spanning 157.5 miles across the Indiana heartland, this trek from Utah to the Eel River takes approximately 3 hours and 16 minutes to complete. Because the total travel time is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip. You will spend roughly $24 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly excursion for a weekend outing. The journey stays entirely within the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you transition between these two Indiana locations. While you only need one day to reach your destination, planning for a single stop will help keep you refreshed behind the wheel. Use this route if you want a manageable trip that avoids the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.8 miles from Utah, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
61.6 mi
1h 5m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
51.5 mi
56m
SR 48
10.1 mi
17m
State Route 59
9.6 mi
13m
East Raymond Street
7.8 mi
12m
North Meridian Street
6.3 mi
10m
Sunnyside Avenue
5.1 mi
9m
Sam Jones Expressway
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 61.6 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Utah, IN and Eel River, IN.
1
Start on George Street
444 ft·22 sec·George Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 50
0.1 mi·22 sec·Green Boulevard
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto SR 148
5.1 mi·9 min·Sunnyside Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
At end of road, turn left onto SR 48
10 mi·17 min·SR 48
5
Turn right onto SR 101
6.3 mi·10 min·North Meridian Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 74 West: Indianapolis
7
Merge onto I 74
62 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 74
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on this road
1.2 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 94Toward Southeastern Avenue
9
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Southeastern Avenue
10
Turn slight left onto East Raymond Street
7.8 mi·12 min·East Raymond Street
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on Sam Jones Expressway
1.5 mi·2 min·Sam Jones Expressway
Use the left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 70 WestUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 70
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward SR 59: Linton, Brazil
15
Turn left onto SR 59
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 59
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn right onto West County Road 450 South
0.7 mi·2 min·West County Road 450 South
17
Turn right onto South County Road 75 West
0.1 mi·30 sec·South County Road 75 West
18
Arrive at destination
West County Road 450 South
Trip Plan
Maximize your travel time by departing early in the morning to beat potential congestion on the main highways. Since the total drive is just over three hours, plan for one well-timed stop to break up the journey and stretch your legs. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 61.6-mile stretch on I-74, as service options may be spaced further apart. Given the manageable duration, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace or explore at your own speed once you arrive. Remember that because the highway share is 53%, your driving style will need to shift slightly when moving from the Eisenhower Highway onto the slower SR 48.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.8 miles from Utah, IN, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 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 35 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.8 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eel River, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Utah, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Utah, IN
This is one driving day of about 157.5 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Utah, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 61.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 95.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 50 / Green Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto US 50 / Green Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 148 / Sunnyside Avenue
Turn left onto SR 148 / Sunnyside Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
21.9 mi into trip|~38m in|I 74
Merge onto I 74
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
94.7 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 West
5
95.2 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.62 one way
$49.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.04
$54.07
premium
$4.89
$30.31
$60.62
diesel
$5.61
$34.77
$69.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.3
0
$16.54
$7.56
Efficient EV
39.4
0
$13.78
$6.30
EV Truck/SUV
63
0
$22.05
$10.08
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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
Utah, IN
Late night
in Utah on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:54AM EDT until April 21 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:54AM EDT until April 23 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Eel River, IN
Late night
in Eel River on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 13 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:54AM EDT until April 21 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:54AM EDT until April 23 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
73°F
Lawrence, IN
79 mi in
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
2 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
3h 16m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate a combination of I-74, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and SR 48. With 53% of the journey spent on highways, you will encounter varying road conditions throughout the 157.5-mile trek. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 61.6 miles on I-74, providing a steady pace before you transition onto local roads. This profile offers a balanced blend of fast-paced interstate travel and slower, more technical stretches. You should be prepared for the shift in road character as you move from the major highways onto the smaller state routes that define the final portion of your drive.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.6 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 50 / Green Boulevard.
Driving Effort5/10
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 157.5 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: at 0.1 miles (US 50 / Green Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (SR 148 / Sunnyside Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
978 ft476 ft
Total Climb
615 ft
Total Descent
540 ft
Highest Point
978 ft
~33.8 mi in
Elevation Range
502 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Utah, IN to Eel River, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Brazil along the way.
Brazil
146.7 mi in|~2h 58m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 157.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.6 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 50 / Green Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (SR 148 / Sunnyside Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Eel River, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
