How far is Indianapolis, IN from Hickory, NC?
The driving distance from Indianapolis, IN to Hickory, NC is about 525.4 miles (845.6 km), with a travel time of about 10h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 383.3 miles (616.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 20h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EST.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 17m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Kentucky, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Indianapolis and Hickory.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indianapolis and Hickory.
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1
Start on the route
78 m · 33 sec
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2
Turn left
11 m · 10 sec
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3
Turn left onto Monument Circle
606 ft · 23 sec · Monument Circle
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4
Turn right onto East Market Street
2837 ft · 2 min · East Market Street
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5
Turn right onto North Park Avenue
156 m · 23 sec · North Park Avenue
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6
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Washington Street
932 ft · 34 sec · East Washington Street
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7
Take the ramp slight right toward I 65 South, I 70 West: Louisville, Saint Louis
1309 ft · 30 sec
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South, I 70 West: Louisville, Saint Louis, East Street
1110 ft · 19 sec
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9
Merge slight left
1938 ft · 33 sec
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10
Keep slight left
104.8 mi · 1 hr 55 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward SR 62 East, SR 265 Toll East: Jeffersonville, Port of Indiana
1237 ft · 43 sec
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12
Merge slight left
7 mi · 8 min
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13
Continue on Gene Snyder Freeway
12.7 mi · 15 min · Gene Snyder Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Shelbyville, Lexington
1359 ft · 47 sec
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15
Merge slight left
87.5 mi · 1 hr 34 min
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16
Continue straight
56.7 mi · 1 hr 1 min
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17
Take the exit slight right toward US 25, US 25E: Corbin, Barbourville
1752 ft · 38 sec
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18
Turn left onto Corbin Bypass
2 mi · 3 min · Corbin Bypass
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19
Continue on Cumberland Gap Parkway
30.7 mi · 37 min · Cumberland Gap Parkway
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20
Continue on Bob Madon Bypass
5.3 mi · 7 min · Bob Madon Bypass
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21
Continue on Wilderness Road
5.2 mi · 6 min · Wilderness Road
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22
Continue on Pineville Road
1.6 km · 1 min · Pineville Road
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23
Continue on 12th Street
1 mi · 1 min · 12th Street
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24
Continue on Cumberland Gap Parkway
3.3 mi · 6 min · Cumberland Gap Parkway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Cumberland Gap Parkway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Cumberland Gap Parkway
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26
Continue on US 25E
7.1 mi · 10 min · US 25E
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27
Turn left onto Appalachian Highway
28.4 mi · 33 min · Appalachian Highway
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28
Continue on Olen R. Marshall Bridge
1762 ft · 23 sec · Olen R. Marshall Bridge
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29
Continue on Davy Crockett Parkway
9.8 mi · 12 min · Davy Crockett Parkway
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30
Continue on State Street
12.7 mi · 19 min · State Street
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31
Turn left onto West Broadway Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · West Broadway Street
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32
Turn right onto Cosby Highway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Cosby Highway
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33
Turn left
1246 ft · 32 sec
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34
Merge slight left
135.1 mi · 2 hr 43 min
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35
Take the exit slight right toward Hildebran
1646 ft · 56 sec
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36
Turn straight onto South Center Street
62 m · 6 sec · South Center Street
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37
Continue on South Center Street
57 m · 7 sec · South Center Street
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38
Turn right onto I- 40 Access Road Southeast
1.2 mi · 2 min · I- 40 Access Road Southeast
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39
At the end of the road, turn right
2.5 mi · 4 min
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40
Turn left onto 13th Street Southwest
2603 ft · 56 sec · 13th Street Southwest
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41
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue Southwest
1.1 mi · 2 min · 2nd Avenue Southwest
-
42
Turn left onto 3rd Street Southwest
655 ft · 29 sec · 3rd Street Southwest
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43
Continue on 3rd Street Northwest
127 m · 21 sec · 3rd Street Northwest
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44
Turn right onto Trade Alley
103 m · 30 sec · Trade Alley
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45
Turn left
47 m · 11 sec
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46
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Indianapolis and Hickory.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Cosby Highway
Merge slight left
135 mi · 02h 43m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Chance Rain Showers leaving Indianapolis and Partly Sunny near Hickory.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Indianapolis to Hickory?
The road trip is about 525.4 miles (845.6 km) and usually takes 10h 17m 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 262.7 miles from Indianapolis and 262.7 miles from Hickory.
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 142.1 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 $71.19 one way or $142.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 164.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Indianapolis and Partly Sunny near Hickory.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Indianapolis and Hickory. Straight-line distance: 383.26 mi (616.79 km).
#1 Indianapolis
The sixteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Indianapolis metropolitan area.
| Population | 877,903 |
| Coordinates | 39.7683800, -86.1580400 |
| Altitude | 218 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Hickory
The second-largest city in Catawba County, North Carolina.
| Population | 41,473 |
| Coordinates | 35.7331900, -81.3412000 |
| Altitude | 350 |
| Country | United States |
End: Hickory (-81.3412, 35.73319)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 846 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 30m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 45m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 33m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.84 | $71.19 | $142.39 |
| Mid-grade | $4.44 | $82.24 | $164.49 |
| Premium | $4.97 | $92.16 | $184.32 |
| Diesel | $6.77 | $125.52 | $251.03 |
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 · Nov 01, 2026