Trip from Walnut, IN to Fort Wayne, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 30m

Distance

62.8 mi

101 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min

4 AM

1h 24m ★

6 AM

1h 31m

8 AM

1h 45m

10 AM

1h 36m

12 PM

1h 34m

3 PM

1h 36m

5 PM

1h 44m

8 PM

1h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Walnut, IN

Neva

Trip Overview

This 62.8-mile drive from Walnut, Indiana, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a manageable 1-hour and 30-minute journey, perfect for a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily using Lake City Highway, State Road 25, and State Road 110, with only about 5% of the route on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest trip is around $10. Given the relatively short distance and lack of designated stops, this route offers a straightforward and efficient way to travel between these two Indiana locations, making it ideal for a quick excursion.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

31.4 miles from Walnut, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Lake City Highway	34.9 mi	45m
State Road 25	14.9 mi	22m
State Road 110	4.5 mi	7m
US 30	3 mi	3m
East Center Street	2 mi	3m
West Winona Avenue	1.8 mi	2m
East Washington Center Road	0.3 mi	<1m
20 C Road	0.3 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Lake City Highway — 34.9 mi, about 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Walnut, IN and Fort Wayne, IN.

Start on 20 C Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · 20 C Road

At end of road, turn right onto South Hawthorn

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Hawthorn

Turn left onto SR 110

4.5 mi · 7 min · State Road 110

At end of road, turn left onto SR 25

15 mi · 22 min · State Road 25

Turn right onto SR 25

1.8 mi · 2 min · West Winona Avenue

Turn left onto SR 15

0.2 mi · 24 sec · South Detroit Street

Turn right onto East Center Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · East Center Street

Turn right onto US 30

35 mi · 45 min · Lake City Highway

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto US 30

3.0 mi · 3 min · US 30

Toward I 69 North Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec

Exit 312A Toward Coldwater Road South

Turn right onto Coldwater Road

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Coldwater Road

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto East Washington Center Road

0.3 mi · 40 sec · East Washington Center Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Dartmouth Drive

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Dartmouth Drive

Arrive at destination

Dartmouth Drive

Trip Plan

For this 1-hour and 30-minute trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, as it's easily completed in one day. Since there are no specific recommended stops, plan your fuel needs before leaving Walnut, considering the $10 fuel cost estimate. The route's 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means staying alert is key, especially on the 34.9-mile stretch of Lake City Highway. Keep an eye on your GPS for the various state road transitions to ensure a smooth journey to Fort Wayne.

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 31.4 miles from Walnut, IN, or about 48m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.9 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 14 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 31.4 miles or 48m 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 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Wayne, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Walnut, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Walnut, IN

This is one driving day of about 62.8 miles and 1h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Walnut, IN.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Lake City Highway for about 34.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Winona Lake, IN

31 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

Kosciusko County, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pierceton, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Walnut, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 62.8

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+12604891855

Visit website

Food Court

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Fort Wayne, Indiana

1.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Black Forest Cat Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 62.8

Hours: 9:30 am–6 pm

+12604982988

Visit website

Firefly Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Wayne, Indiana

1.7 mi

Old Crown Coffee Roasters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Wayne, Indiana

1.7 mi

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 62.8

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+12604891855

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 62.8

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 6:30 am–12:30 pm

Visit website

InCharge Energy Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 62.8

Fort Wayne, Indiana

+18333994638

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 44.8

Columbia City, Indiana

+18888074522

Visit website

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 44.8

Columbia City, Indiana

+18888074522

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 58.3

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 62.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Hawthorn

At end of road, turn right onto South Hawthorn

Navigation decision point

23.9 mi into trip | ~38m in | US 30 / Lake City Highway

Turn right onto US 30 / Lake City Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

58.8 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | US 30

Take the exit onto US 30 toward I 69 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward I 69 North

61.8 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in

Take the exit toward Coldwater Road South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 312A Toward Coldwater Road South

62.1 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | Coldwater Road

Turn right onto Coldwater Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.82 one way

$19.64 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$10.78	$21.56
premium	$4.89	$12.09	$24.17
diesel	$5.61	$13.87	$27.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	18.8	$6.59	$3.01
Efficient EV	15.7	$5.49	$2.51
EV Truck/SUV	25.1	$8.79	$4.02

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 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 15, 2026

Origin

Walnut, IN

Night in Walnut on Saturday

Local time

10:46 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Wayne, IN

Night in Fort Wayne on Saturday

Local time

10:46 PM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live 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

19 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 30m 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 on this route, characterized by its winding nature rather than long, straight stretches. With only a 5% highway share, most of your time will be spent on local roads. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 34.9 miles along Lake City Highway. This road profile suggests a dynamic driving experience, requiring your attention as you navigate through various turns and changes in scenery typical of Indiana's countryside.

Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 34.9 mi on Lake City Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near South Hawthorn.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 30m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (South Hawthorn): Navigation decision point; at 23.9 miles (US 30 / Lake City Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.8 miles (US 30): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving in Fort Wayne, IN

Full guide →

Fort Wayne is a city in the northeastern part of Indiana, a state of the United States of America. It is 30 minutes from the western Ohio border and 70 minutes from the southern border of Michigan. With a population of around 260,000 in the city and 615,000 in the metropolitan area, it's Indiana's second largest city. Fort Wayne is a metropolitan city with a small community feel. It provides the rush of urban activity while never losing an intimate personal connection with those who live or visit here. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state of Indiana, located in Allen County, the largest county in the state by geography. It is the regional commerce and industry center for Northeast Indiana and also impacts the economies of Southwestern Michigan and Western Ohio. Fort Wayne has been and is a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and high tech industries.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 62.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (5%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34.9 miles on Lake City Highway. 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Wayne, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Walnut, IN or browse trips ending in Fort Wayne, IN.

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Trip from Walnut, IN to Fort Wayne, IN

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Black Forest Cat Café

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Food Court

Black Forest Cat Café

Firefly Coffee House

Old Crown Coffee Roasters

Fortezza Coffee

The Light House coffee bar

Tall Rabbit Cafe + Community

The Green Bean Coffee Bar

InCharge Energy Charging Station

EV Connect Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Charge Pro Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Walnut, IN

Fort Wayne, IN

Same local time

19 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 30m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Arriving in Fort Wayne, IN

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Fort Wayne, IN

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