How far is Lowell, IN from Elkhart, IN?

The driving distance from Lowell, IN to Elkhart, IN is about 195 miles (313.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 167.8 miles (270.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 08m 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
194.99 mi
04h 04m
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 Lowell.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
194.99 mi
Kilometers
313.81 km
Drive Time
04h 04m

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 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elkhart
Mon, Apr 13, 12:27 AM EDT
Return by in Lowell
Mon, Apr 13, 4:31 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lowell
2026-04-12T20:22
Arrive Elkhart
Mon, Apr 13, 12:27 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:04 AM to 12:04 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
8:52 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lowell
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 Lowell
97.6 mi
02h 02m
To Elkhart
97.4 mi
02h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 17 mph S
Destination
77°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Shady Lane

    1249 ft · 55 sec · Shady Lane

  2. 2

    Turn left

    3.6 mi · 5 min

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right

    2158 ft · 52 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    26.7 mi · 29 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward Southport Road

    1948 ft · 48 sec

  6. 6

    Turn slight right

    54 m · 4 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto East Southport Road

    975 ft · 27 sec · East Southport Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto South Emerson Avenue

    2.5 mi · 4 min · South Emerson Avenue

  9. 9

    Take the ramp straight

    2399 ft · 59 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    2.3 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    11.8 mi · 14 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    1477 ft · 20 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on I-465 WB

    1.3 km · 57 sec · I-465 WB

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    2.6 mi · 3 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Keystone Avenue

    2147 ft · 52 sec

  16. 16

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

    52 m · 6 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto North Keystone Avenue

    1412 ft · 44 sec · North Keystone Avenue

  18. 18

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

    34 m · 6 sec

  19. 19

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

    1186 ft · 31 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Parkway

    133 m · 12 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Parkway

    5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Parkway

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto North Meridian Street

    118.3 mi · 2 hr 26 min · North Meridian Street

  23. 23

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

    2307 ft · 56 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Saint Joseph Valley Parkway

    12.9 mi · 15 min · Saint Joseph Valley Parkway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 19 North: Elkhart

    2626 ft · 1 min

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto South Nappanee Street

    2.8 mi · 4 min · South Nappanee Street

  27. 27

    Turn right

    160 m · 10 sec

  28. 28

    Continue on West Franklin Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · West Franklin Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Pletcher Court

    89 m · 17 sec · Pletcher Court

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Pletcher Court

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lowell 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
30 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
6 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Meridian Street
118 mi · 61%
Shady Lane
27.3 mi · 14%
South Emerson Avenue
17.3 mi · 9%
Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
12.9 mi · 7%
Keystone Parkway
5.11 mi · 3%
I-465 WB
3.45 mi · 2%
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 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.2 mi
167.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kokomo
02h 02m from Lowell
Leave By
8:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 195 miles (313.8 km) and usually takes 04h 04m 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 97.6 miles from Lowell and 97.4 miles from Elkhart.

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 27.2 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 8:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.94 one way or $51.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Lowell and Elkhart. Straight-line distance: 167.83 mi (270.09 km).

Lowell

#1 Lowell

Town in Lake County, Indiana, United States

Population10,137
Coordinates39.2531069, -85.9463839
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Elkhart

#2 Elkhart

The most populous city in Elkhart County, Indiana.

Population52,172
Coordinates41.6819900, -85.9766700
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Start: Lowell (-85.946384, 39.253107)
End: Elkhart (-85.97667, 41.68199)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 314 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.88 gal
26.05 L · about $25.94
Round trip
$51.89
13.76 gal · 52.1 L
Estimated CO2
61.1 kg one way
Round trip: 122.3 kg / 270 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.94 $51.89
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.26 $58.52
Premium $4.65 $32.02 $64.04
Diesel $5.30 $36.49 $72.98

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 Lowell and Elkhart. The current time is 20:22:42.

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.