Origin
Washington, IA
Late night in Washington on Sunday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington, IA to Indiana, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 40m
Distance
137.6 mi
221 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 30m
★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 2m
10 AM
2h 48m
12 PM
2h 46m
3 PM
2h 49m
5 PM
3h 0m
8 PM
2h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington, IA
Paula Nardini
Indiana, IA
Kelly
Trip Overview
This straightforward 137.6-mile drive from Washington, Iowa, to Indiana, Iowa, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. The route predominantly utilizes major highways, with 89% of the journey on interstates and state routes like I 35 and IA 5. Expect a fuel cost of around $22 for this Midwest to Midwest journey within Iowa. With only one recommended stop and a significant stretch of highway driving, this route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these two points, making it ideal for those prioritizing directness and speed over leisurely exploration.
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
68.8 miles from Washington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 77.9 mi | 1h 24m |
| IA 5 | 35.4 mi | 42m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 3 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| I 80 | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| County Highway G76 | 2 mi | 3m |
| Balsam Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 77.9 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, IA and Indiana, IA.
1
Start on IA 3
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 3
2
Continue on IA 3
517 ft
·
13 sec
·
Balsam Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Hampton, Clarion
4
Merge onto I 35
78 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
7
Merge onto I 80
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 80
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 65
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
11
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
21 min
·
IA 5
12
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi
·
11 min
·
IA 5; IA 92
13
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 5
14
Turn right onto IA 5
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
IA 5
15
Turn sharp right onto CR G76
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
County Highway G76
16
Continue on CR G76
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G76
17
Arrive at destination
CR G76
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 40 minutes, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of lighter traffic and maximize your time at your destination. With only one stop suggested and a long stretch of highway, consider fueling up before you leave Washington, IA, or planning your single stop strategically around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch of 77.9 miles on I 35 offers fewer immediate exit options for refueling.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.8 miles from Washington, IA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.9 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 30 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.8 miles or 1h 16m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indiana, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Washington, IA 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 Washington, IA
This is one driving day of about 137.6 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Washington, IA.
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 35 for about 77.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 68.8 miles from Washington, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 6.5 and 88.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward Hampton, Clarion
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Hampton, Clarion
5
6.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
84.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
5
84.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
88.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.51 one way
$43.02 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.62 | $47.24 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.48 | $52.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.38 | $60.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.3 | 0 | $14.45 | $6.60 |
| Efficient EV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.04 | $5.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55 | 0 | $19.26 | $8.81 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Indiana, IA
Late night in Indiana on Sunday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
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
3 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
2h 40m 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?
Primarily a highway-focused drive, you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, covering 89% of the route on interstates and designated highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 77.9 miles, allowing for extended periods of consistent cruising on I 35. While the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway and IA 5 offer some variation, the overall character is one of efficient, high-speed travel. This means you can expect a steady pace with minimal interruptions, making it a predictable and straightforward driving experience.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and IA 5. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 137.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 6.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Washington, IA and Indiana, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Des Moines.
Council Bluffs
84.6 mi in
|
~1h 33m
|
via I 35
Davenport
84.6 mi in
|
~1h 33m
|
via I 35
Des Moines
88.2 mi in
|
~1h 39m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 137.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.9 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Indiana, IA 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indiana, IA 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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