Spanning 88.2 miles between Utah and Southport, this Indiana road trip is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 57 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively short, you can comfortably handle the entire distance in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your itinerary. The route utilizes a mix of I-74, SR 48, and North Meridian Street to navigate through the Midwest. It serves as a practical, efficient connection between these two Indiana locations, perfect for travelers looking for a no-fuss drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.1 miles from Utah, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
56.3 mi
1h
SR 48
10.1 mi
17m
North Meridian Street
6.3 mi
10m
East Edgewood Avenue
5.7 mi
10m
Sunnyside Avenue
5.1 mi
9m
East Southport Road
2.4 mi
5m
South Emerson Avenue
1 mi
1m
Southeastern Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 56.3 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Utah, IN and Southport, 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
56 mi·1 hr·I 74
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 99Toward Acton RoadUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Acton Road
0.2 mi·20 sec·Acton Road
10
Turn right onto Southeastern Avenue
0.3 mi·27 sec·Southeastern Avenue
11
Turn left onto East Edgewood Avenue
2.4 mi·4 min·East Edgewood Avenue
12
Enter roundabout onto South Franklin Road
112 ft·2 sec·South Franklin Road
13
Continue on South Franklin Road
151 ft·3 sec·South Franklin Road
14
Continue on East Edgewood Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·East Edgewood Avenue
15
Enter roundabout onto East Edgewood Avenue
86 ft·2 sec·East Edgewood Avenue
16
Continue on East Edgewood Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·East Edgewood Avenue
17
Enter roundabout onto South Arlington Avenue
82 ft·1 sec·South Arlington Avenue
18
Continue on South Arlington Avenue
129 ft·2 sec·South Arlington Avenue
19
Continue on East Edgewood Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·East Edgewood Avenue
20
Turn left onto South Emerson Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·South Emerson Avenue
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto East Southport Road
2.4 mi·5 min·East Southport Road
22
Turn right
51 ft·3 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid potential traffic near your destination. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way given the manageable 88.2-mile distance, but keeping your fuel tank topped off before leaving Utah ensures you won't need to hunt for a station mid-trip. If you prefer a relaxed pace, consider that the long 56.3-mile stretch on I-74 is the best time to settle in and maintain a consistent speed. Use the final leg on North Meridian Street to transition your focus from highway cruising to urban driving as you approach Southport.
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 44.1 miles from Utah, IN, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.3 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 19 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.1 miles or 1h 1m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southport, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Utah, IN
This is one driving day of about 88.2 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Utah, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 56.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 78.5 — 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.
7
78.2 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Acton Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99
Toward Acton Road
5
78.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|Acton Road
Turn left onto Acton Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.79 one way
$27.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.14
$30.28
premium
$4.89
$16.97
$33.95
diesel
$5.61
$19.47
$38.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.5
0
$9.26
$4.23
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.72
$3.53
EV Truck/SUV
35.3
0
$12.35
$5.64
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Utah, IN
Late night
in Utah on Tuesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Southport, IN
Late night
in Southport on Tuesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Greensburg, IN
44 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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 75% of your travel time will be spent on major roads. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 56.3-mile stretch on I-74, which provides a steady, uninterrupted rhythm behind the wheel. As you transition off the interstate and onto SR 48 and North Meridian Street, the driving environment shifts from high-speed transit to local navigation. This combination ensures you spend the bulk of your time cruising, with the final segments requiring more attention as you arrive in Southport. It is a functional drive designed for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.3 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and SR 48. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 50 / Green Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 88.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 56.3 miles on I 74. 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: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Southport, IN before heading back.
