How far is Madison, IN from Indianapolis, IN?

The driving distance from Madison, IN to Indianapolis, IN is about 101.8 miles (163.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 82.6 miles (132.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
101.86 mi
01h 48m
Flight
82.59 mi
132.92 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Madison.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
82.59 mi
Kilometers
132.92 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
101.86 mi
Kilometers
163.92 km
Drive Time
01h 48m

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 01h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Indianapolis
Wed, Apr 22, 11:09 PM EDT
Return by in Madison
Thu, Apr 23, 12:58 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Madison
2026-04-22T21:20
Arrive Indianapolis
Wed, Apr 22, 11:09 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:49 AM to 11:49 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Madison
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Columbus
IN

The most populous city in Bartholomew County, Indiana.

From Madison
45.9 mi
00h 54m
To Indianapolis
55.9 mi
00h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph W
Destination
76°F
Wednesday

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    22 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Street

    56 m · 9 sec · West Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Cragmont Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Cragmont Street

  5. 5

    Turn left

    1684 ft · 29 sec

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Lanier Drive

    20.1 mi · 30 min · Lanier Drive

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Poplar Street

    972 ft · 16 sec · Poplar Street

  8. 8

    Continue on State Roads 3 & 7

    2833 ft · 2 min · State Roads 3 & 7

  9. 9

    Continue on South State Street

    17.8 mi · 27 min · South State Street

  10. 10

    Continue on State Street

    3.9 mi · 6 min · State Street

  11. 11

    Continue on 3rd Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 3rd Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Jonathan Moore Pike

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Jonathan Moore Pike

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Indianapolis

    1413 ft · 41 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    41.5 mi · 47 min

  15. 15

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

    1 km · 56 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    719 ft · 12 sec · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Meridian Street

    1805 ft · 46 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on Madison Avenue

    1849 ft · 1 min · Madison Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on South Meridian Street

    2344 ft · 2 min · South Meridian Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Monument Circle

    111 m · 43 sec · Monument Circle

  21. 21

    Turn right

    23 m · 7 sec

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn right

    78 m · 28 sec

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 65 North
41.8 mi · 41%
Lanier Drive
20.1 mi · 20%
South State Street
17.8 mi · 18%
State Street
3.85 mi · 4%
Cragmont Street
1.67 mi · 2%
Jonathan Moore Pike
1.44 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 65 North

Merge slight left

41.5 mi · 00h 47m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 48m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.2 mi
82.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbus
00h 54m from Madison
Leave By
2:52 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Madison and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Indianapolis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 101.8 miles (163.9 km) and usually takes 01h 48m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Columbus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 45.9 miles from Madison and 55.9 miles from Indianapolis.

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

The direct path is about 82.6 miles (132.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.58 one way or $27.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Madison and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Indianapolis.

Stop Ideas Near Columbus

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

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

RAIL

Indianapolis Union Station

66 mi away
350 South Illinois Street
RAIL

Connersville station

84 mi away
1012 Eastern Avenue
BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

106 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Madison and Indianapolis. Straight-line distance: 82.59 mi (132.92 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Madison

County seat of Jefferson County, Indiana, United States

Population11,750
Coordinates38.7358900, -85.3799600
Altitude149
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: (-85.379958, 38.735738)
End: Monument Circle (-86.158009, 39.768033)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 164 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.6 gal
13.61 L · about $13.58
Round trip
$27.15
7.2 gal · 27.22 L
Estimated CO2
32 kg one way
Round trip: 64 kg / 141 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.58 $27.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.31 $30.62
Premium $4.65 $16.75 $33.51
Diesel $5.30 $19.09 $38.19

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Madison and Indianapolis. The current time is 21:20:28.

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.