Utah, IN to Otterbein, IN is 168.6 miles and takes about 3h 31m via I 65 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within Indiana, connecting two points in the Midwest. Given its relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, it's a convenient option for a single-day excursion. You'll spend the majority of your time on major interstates, making for efficient travel between these two locations.
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
84.3 miles from Utah, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
62.5 mi
1h 11m
I 74
61.6 mi
1h 5m
SR 48
10.1 mi
17m
US 52
8.1 mi
10m
North Meridian Street
6.3 mi
10m
Sunnyside Avenue
5.1 mi
9m
Sagamore Parkway North
5.1 mi
8m
Southeastern Avenue
5 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 62.5 mi, about 1h 11m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,910 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,685
Quietest
2 AM
~219 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Utah, IN and Otterbein, 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
3.6 mi·5 min·Southeastern Avenue
10
Enter roundabout onto Southeastern Avenue
106 ft·5 sec·Southeastern Avenue
11
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·Southeastern Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Continue on Cruse Street
422 ft·14 sec·Cruse Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto East Market Street
364 ft·15 sec·East Market Street
14
Turn left onto Dickson Street
526 ft·20 sec·Dickson Street
15
Turn left onto East Ohio Street
129 ft·5 sec·East Ohio Street
16
Turn right onto Dickson Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dickson Street
17
Turn left onto East New York Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East New York Street
18
Turn right onto North Pine Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Pine Street
19
Take the ramp
124 ft·3 sec
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 65 North: ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto I 65
30 mi·35 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit onto US 52
0.2 mi·15 sec·US 52
Exit 141Toward US 52 West
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
24
Merge onto I 65
33 mi·35 min·I 65
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 175Toward SR 25: Lafayette, Delphi
26
Turn left onto SR 25
0.1 mi·22 sec·Hoosier Heartland Highway
27
Continue on Schuyler Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·Schuyler Avenue
28
Turn right onto Sagamore Parkway North
5.1 mi·8 min·Sagamore Parkway North
29
Continue on US 52; US 231
7.9 mi·10 min·US 52; US 231
30
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·North Main Street
31
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 3h 31m drive, starting in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid any potential evening traffic. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $30, you have flexibility in when and where you refuel. The longest stretch without an exit is 62.5 miles on I 65, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment. Because this is a shorter, mostly highway route, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 84.3 miles from Utah, IN, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.5 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 37 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.3 miles or 1h 45m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Otterbein, 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 168.6 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 65 for about 62.5 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 153.6 — 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.
8
90.5 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 65 North: Chicago
6
153.6 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward SR 25: Lafayette, Delphi
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 175
Toward SR 25: Lafayette, Delphi
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.03 one way
$56.06 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$30.53
$61.07
premium
$5.18
$34.40
$68.81
diesel
$5.35
$35.51
$71.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.6
0
$17.70
$8.09
Efficient EV
42.2
0
$14.75
$6.74
EV Truck/SUV
67.4
0
$23.60
$10.79
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Utah, IN
Evening
in Utah on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 2 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 3 at 12:48PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Otterbein, IN
Evening
in Otterbein on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Isolated Rain Showers
ENE 3 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 2 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 3 at 12:48PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
84°F
Beech Grove, IN
84 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
5 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 31m 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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 87% of the 168.6 miles on interstates like I 65 and I 74. Expect to cover a longest stretch of 62.5 miles on I 65 without needing to exit. You'll transition to surface roads, specifically SR 48, for the final portion of the trip. The highway sections will likely feature frequent exits and entrances as you navigate between the major interstates.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 50 / Green Boulevard.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 168.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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
1,000 ft476 ft
Total Climb
952 ft
Total Descent
720 ft
Highest Point
1,000 ft
~36.1 mi in
Elevation Range
525 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 Otterbein, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Delphi along the way.
Utah, which is in the Southwest region of the United States, is well known for its incredible scenic beauty and year round outdoor activities including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, boating, water skiing, horseback riding, camping, and rock climbing. The capital city of Salt Lake City has a number of unique modern and historical sites to visit, including Temple Square, the headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 168.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.5 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 Otterbein, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Otterbein, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
