How far is Hickory, NC from Indianapolis, IN?

The driving distance from Hickory, NC to Indianapolis, IN is about 523.9 miles (843.1 km), with a travel time of about 10h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 383.3 miles (616.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 20h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EST.
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
523.86 mi
10h 15m
Flight
383.26 mi
616.79 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hickory.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
383.26 mi
Kilometers
616.79 km
Flight Time
00h 46m

Driving Distance

Road route
523.86 mi
Kilometers
843.07 km
Drive Time
10h 15m

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 10h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Indianapolis
Mon, Nov 2, 6:59 AM EST
Return by in Hickory
Mon, Nov 2, 5:14 PM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hickory
2026-11-01T20:44
Arrive Indianapolis
Mon, Nov 2, 6:59 AM EST
Route Timing
10h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EST
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
4:15 PM to 5:45 PM EST

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
3:30 PM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hickory
8:00 PM EST
Overnight-style route

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
London
KY

City in Kentucky, United States

From Hickory
261.9 mi
05h 07m
To Indianapolis
262 mi
05h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Nov 1 6:00 AM EST
Wind
2 to 6 mph NE
Destination
69°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Nov 1 6:00 AM EST
Wind
2 to 6 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Hickory and Indianapolis.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hickory and Indianapolis.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    47 m · 17 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Trade Alley

    78 m · 24 sec · Trade Alley

  3. 3

    Turn left

    67 m · 22 sec

  4. 4

    Turn left onto 1st Avenue Northwest

    1292 ft · 43 sec · 1st Avenue Northwest

  5. 5

    Turn left onto 4th Street Northwest

    112 m · 7 sec · 4th Street Northwest

  6. 6

    Continue on 4th Street Southwest

    151 m · 14 sec · 4th Street Southwest

  7. 7

    Turn right onto 1st Avenue Southwest

    1.5 km · 1 min · 1st Avenue Southwest

  8. 8

    Turn left onto 13th Street Southwest

    2871 ft · 57 sec · 13th Street Southwest

  9. 9

    Turn right onto US 70 Southwest

    2.5 mi · 4 min · US 70 Southwest

  10. 10

    Turn left onto I- 40 Access Road Southeast

    1.2 mi · 2 min · I- 40 Access Road Southeast

  11. 11

    Take the ramp straight

    1492 ft · 36 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    65.4 mi · 1 hr 15 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    69.4 mi · 1 hr 28 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 321, TN 32: Newport, Gatlinburg

    1379 ft · 34 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    68 m · 5 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Cosby Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Cosby Highway

  17. 17

    Turn left onto West Broadway Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Broadway Street

  18. 18

    Turn right

    30.8 mi · 41 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Appalachian Highway

    20.4 mi · 24 min · Appalachian Highway

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn right onto US 25E

    7.1 mi · 10 min · US 25E

  21. 21

    Continue on Cumberland Gap Parkway

    2 mi · 2 min · Cumberland Gap Parkway

  22. 22

    Continue on Cumberland Gap Highway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Cumberland Gap Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Cumberland Gap Parkway

    3.8 mi · 6 min · Cumberland Gap Parkway

  24. 24

    Continue on 12th Street

    1 mi · 1 min · 12th Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Pineville Road

    1.6 km · 1 min · Pineville Road

  26. 26

    Continue on Wilderness Road

    10.5 mi · 13 min · Wilderness Road

  27. 27

    Continue on Riverview Avenue

    30.7 mi · 37 min · Riverview Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue on Corbin Bypass

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Corbin Bypass

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 North: Lexington

    1811 ft · 24 sec

  30. 30

    Merge slight left

    88.3 mi · 1 hr 35 min

  31. 31

    Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West: Frankfort, Louisville

    55.7 mi · 1 hr

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right

    1329 ft · 32 sec

  33. 33

    Merge slight left onto Gene Snyder Freeway

    12.5 mi · 14 min · Gene Snyder Freeway

  34. 34

    Continue on Lewis and Clark Bridge

    6.1 mi · 7 min · Lewis and Clark Bridge

  35. 35

    Continue straight

    2617 ft · 34 sec

  36. 36

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Indianapolis

    2902 ft · 55 sec

  37. 37

    Merge slight left

    104 mi · 1 hr 54 min

  38. 38

    Take the exit slight left toward I 70 West: Saint Louis

    1 km · 56 sec

  39. 39

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    719 ft · 12 sec · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  40. 40

    Take the exit slight right toward Meridian Street

    1805 ft · 46 sec

  41. 41

    Continue on Madison Avenue

    1849 ft · 1 min · Madison Avenue

  42. 42

    Continue on South Meridian Street

    2344 ft · 2 min · South Meridian Street

  43. 43

    Turn left onto Monument Circle

    111 m · 43 sec · Monument Circle

  44. 44

    Turn right

    23 m · 7 sec

  45. 45

    At the end of the road, turn right

    78 m · 28 sec

  46. 46

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Hickory and Indianapolis.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
46 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
6 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I- 40 Access Road Southeast
136 mi · 26%
I 65 North
105 mi · 20%
I 75 North
88.6 mi · 17%
I 64 West
55.9 mi · 11%
Riverview Avenue
30.7 mi · 6%
Appalachian Highway
20.4 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 65 North

Merge slight left

104 mi · 01h 54m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
10h 15m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
20h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+140.6 mi
383.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
London
05h 07m from Hickory
Leave By
3:30 PM EST
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Hickory and Chance Rain Showers near Indianapolis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Hickory to Indianapolis?

The road trip is about 523.9 miles (843.1 km) and usually takes 10h 15m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

London is a useful midpoint, sitting about 261.9 miles from Hickory and 262 miles from Indianapolis.

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

The direct path is about 383.3 miles (616.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 140.6 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 7:30 AM EST. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $62.78 one way or $125.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 164.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Hickory and Chance Rain Showers near Indianapolis.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hickory and Indianapolis. Straight-line distance: 383.26 mi (616.79 km).

Hickory

#1 Hickory

The second-largest city in Catawba County, North Carolina.

Population41,473
Coordinates35.7331900, -81.3412000
Altitude350
CountryUnited States
Indianapolis

#2 Indianapolis

The sixteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

Population877,903
Coordinates39.7683800, -86.1580400
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Start: Hickory (-81.3412, 35.73319)
End: Indianapolis (-86.15804, 39.76838)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 843 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)17h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)13h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
18.48 gal
69.97 L · about $62.78
Round trip
$125.55
36.96 gal · 139.94 L
Estimated CO2
164.2 kg one way
Round trip: 328.5 kg / 724 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.40 $62.78 $125.55
Mid-grade $3.86 $71.24 $142.48
Premium $4.29 $79.19 $158.37
Diesel $5.52 $101.94 $203.87

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 North Carolina · Nov 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Hickory and Indianapolis. The current time is 20:44:10.

Distance to Other Cities

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