How far is Bedford, IN from Elkhart, IN?

The driving distance from Bedford, IN to Elkhart, IN is about 235.9 miles (379.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 196.7 miles (316.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
235.93 mi
04h 50m
Flight
196.75 mi
316.64 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bedford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
196.75 mi
Kilometers
316.64 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
235.93 mi
Kilometers
379.69 km
Drive Time
04h 50m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elkhart
Sat, Apr 11, 7:48 AM EDT
Return by in Bedford
Sat, Apr 11, 12:39 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bedford
2026-04-11T02:58
Arrive Elkhart
Sat, Apr 11, 7:48 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:50 AM to 12:50 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:20 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bedford
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Tipton
IN

County seat of Tipton County, Indiana, United States

From Bedford
118 mi
02h 25m
To Elkhart
117.9 mi
02h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph E
Destination
60°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bedford and Elkhart.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bedford and Elkhart.

  1. 1

    Start on L Street

    111 m · 15 sec · L Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 15th Street

    137 m · 13 sec · 15th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto M Street

    126 m · 11 sec · M Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 16th Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · 16th Street

  5. 5

    Turn right

    18.6 mi · 23 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight right

    57.2 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    11.8 mi · 14 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    1477 ft · 20 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on I-465 WB

    1.3 km · 57 sec · I-465 WB

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    2.6 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Keystone Avenue

    2147 ft · 52 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street, West 98th Street, East 96th Street

    52 m · 6 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto North Keystone Avenue

    1412 ft · 43 sec · North Keystone Avenue

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street

    34 m · 6 sec

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street

    1186 ft · 31 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Parkway

    133 m · 12 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Parkway

    5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Parkway

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto North Meridian Street

    118.3 mi · 2 hr 26 min · North Meridian Street

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Mishawaka, Elkhart

    2307 ft · 56 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Saint Joseph Valley Parkway

    12.9 mi · 15 min · Saint Joseph Valley Parkway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 19 North: Elkhart

    2626 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto South Nappanee Street

    2.8 mi · 4 min · South Nappanee Street

  23. 23

    Turn right

    160 m · 10 sec

  24. 24

    Continue on West Franklin Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · West Franklin Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Pletcher Court

    89 m · 17 sec · Pletcher Court

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Pletcher Court

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bedford and Elkhart.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
26 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
5 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Meridian Street
118 mi · 50%
16th Street
71 mi · 30%
Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
12.9 mi · 5%
Keystone Parkway
5.11 mi · 2%
I-465 WB
3.45 mi · 1%
South Nappanee Street
2.79 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

North Meridian Street

Merge slight left onto North Meridian Street

118 mi · 02h 26m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.2 mi
196.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tipton
02h 25m from Bedford
Leave By
7:20 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bedford and Sunny near Elkhart.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bedford to Elkhart?

The road trip is about 235.9 miles (379.7 km) and usually takes 04h 50m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Tipton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 118 miles from Bedford and 117.9 miles from Elkhart.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 196.7 miles (316.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:20 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.37 one way or $62.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bedford and Sunny near Elkhart.

Stop Ideas Near Tipton

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Tipton, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Tipton.

RAIL

Indianapolis Union Station

59 mi away
350 South Illinois Street
RAIL

Lafayette station

74 mi away
200 North 2nd St.
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

77 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Crawfordsville

78 mi away
Spring and Green Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bedford and Elkhart. Straight-line distance: 196.75 mi (316.64 km).

Bedford

#1 Bedford

Town in Lawrence County, Indiana, United States

Population13,233
Coordinates38.8611600, -86.4872100
Altitude209
CountryUnited States
Elkhart

#2 Elkhart

The most populous city in Elkhart County, Indiana.

Population52,172
Coordinates41.6819900, -85.9766700
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Start: Bedford (-86.48721, 38.86116)
End: Elkhart (-85.97667, 41.68199)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 380 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.32 gal
31.51 L · about $31.37
Round trip
$62.75
16.64 gal · 63.02 L
Estimated CO2
73.9 kg one way
Round trip: 147.9 kg / 326 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.37 $62.75
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.38 $70.77
Premium $4.65 $38.72 $77.44
Diesel $5.30 $44.13 $88.26

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Indiana · Apr 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Bedford and Elkhart. The current time is 02:58:16.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.