How far is Elkhart, IN from Lowell, IN?

The driving distance from Elkhart, IN to Lowell, IN is about 196.1 miles (315.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 167.8 miles (270.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 15m 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
196.09 mi
04h 07m
Flight
167.83 mi
270.09 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elkhart.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
167.83 mi
Kilometers
270.09 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
196.09 mi
Kilometers
315.57 km
Drive Time
04h 07m

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 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lowell
Mon, Apr 13, 2:19 AM EDT
Return by in Elkhart
Mon, Apr 13, 6:27 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elkhart
2026-04-12T22:12
Arrive Lowell
Mon, Apr 13, 2:19 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:08 AM to 12:08 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
8:44 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elkhart
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
Kokomo
IN

The most populous city in Howard County, Indiana.

From Elkhart
98.1 mi
02h 03m
To Lowell
98 mi
02h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
82°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 17 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Pletcher Court

    38 m · 9 sec · Pletcher Court

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Marion Street

    2780 ft · 1 min · West Marion Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Franklin Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Franklin Street

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    107 m · 14 sec

  5. 5

    Turn left onto South Nappanee Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · South Nappanee Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right

    2865 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Saint Joseph Valley Parkway

    12.9 mi · 15 min · Saint Joseph Valley Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 31 South: Plymouth, Indianapolis

    1330 ft · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto South Michigan Street

    24.9 mi · 30 min · South Michigan Street

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    1.4 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Turn slight right

    156 m · 7 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    84.6 mi · 1 hr 45 min

  13. 13

    Turn right onto East 226th Street

    82 m · 10 sec · East 226th Street

  14. 14

    Turn left

    98 m · 51 sec

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    98 m · 25 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto East 226th Street

    82 m · 10 sec · East 226th Street

  17. 17

    Turn right

    8 mi · 11 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Keystone Parkway, Rangeline Road, Clay Terrace Boulevard

    1178 ft · 29 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Parkway

    5.2 mi · 8 min · Keystone Parkway

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward I 465: South Keystone Avenue

    42 m · 8 sec

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto I 465: South Keystone Avenue

    1346 ft · 33 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 465 East: Keystone Avenue South

    131 m · 11 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on I 465 East

    1.2 km · 2 min

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    4 mi · 5 min

  25. 25

    Merge slight right

    11.3 mi · 13 min

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    2.3 mi · 3 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward Emerson Avenue

    1296 ft · 32 sec

  28. 28

    Keep slight left

    1069 ft · 28 sec

  29. 29

    Turn straight onto South Emerson Avenue

    2.6 mi · 4 min · South Emerson Avenue

  30. 30

    Turn right onto East Southport Road

    2440 ft · 53 sec · East Southport Road

  31. 31

    Take the ramp left

    1656 ft · 43 sec

  32. 32

    Merge slight left

    27.2 mi · 30 min

  33. 33

    Take the exit slight right toward US 31 South: Taylorsville, Columbus

    1330 ft · 46 sec

  34. 34

    Turn straight

    3.8 mi · 6 min

  35. 35

    Turn right onto Shady Lane

    1249 ft · 55 sec · Shady Lane

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Shady Lane

Car Route Details

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

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
36 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
6 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Michigan Street
110 mi · 56%
East Southport Road
28 mi · 14%
I 465 East
18.5 mi · 9%
Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
12.9 mi · 7%
Keystone Parkway
5.46 mi · 3%
South Nappanee Street
3.05 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

South Michigan Street

Continue straight

84.6 mi · 01h 45m

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 07m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.3 mi
167.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kokomo
02h 03m from Elkhart
Leave By
8:44 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Elkhart and Partly Sunny near Lowell.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 196.1 miles (315.6 km) and usually takes 04h 07m 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?

Kokomo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 98.1 miles from Elkhart and 98 miles from Lowell.

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

The direct path is about 167.8 miles (270.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.3 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 8:44 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.10 one way or $52.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Elkhart and Partly Sunny near Lowell.

Stop Ideas Near Kokomo

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Kokomo, 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 Kokomo.

RAIL

Lafayette station

65 mi away
200 North 2nd St.
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

80 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Indianapolis Union Station

81 mi away
350 South Illinois Street
RAIL

Crawfordsville

81 mi away
Spring and Green Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elkhart and Lowell. Straight-line distance: 167.83 mi (270.09 km).

Elkhart

#1 Elkhart

The most populous city in Elkhart County, Indiana.

Population52,172
Coordinates41.6819900, -85.9766700
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Lowell

#2 Lowell

Town in Lake County, Indiana, United States

Population10,137
Coordinates39.2531069, -85.9463839
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Start: Elkhart (-85.97667, 41.68199)
End: Lowell (-85.946384, 39.253107)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 316 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.92 gal
26.19 L · about $26.10
Round trip
$52.19
13.84 gal · 52.38 L
Estimated CO2
61.5 kg one way
Round trip: 123 kg / 271 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.10 $52.19
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.43 $58.86
Premium $4.65 $32.21 $64.41
Diesel $5.30 $36.70 $73.41

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Elkhart and Lowell. The current time is 22:12:01.

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.