How far is Princeton, IN from Lafayette, IN?

The driving distance from Princeton, IN to Lafayette, IN is about 169.3 miles (272.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 147.1 miles (236.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
169.24 mi
03h 48m
Flight
147.15 mi
236.81 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Princeton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
147.15 mi
Kilometers
236.81 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
169.24 mi
Kilometers
272.37 km
Drive Time
03h 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 03h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lafayette
Wed, Apr 22, 10:59 PM EDT
Return by in Princeton
Thu, Apr 23, 1:48 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Princeton
2026-04-22T18:10
Arrive Lafayette
Wed, Apr 22, 9:59 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:49 AM to 12:49 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
9:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Princeton
9:00 PM CDT
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
Seelyville
IN

City in Vigo County, Indiana, United States of America

From Princeton
84.7 mi
01h 54m
To Lafayette
84.6 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph WSW
Destination
77°F
Wednesday

Scattered Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Princeton and Lafayette.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Princeton and Lafayette.

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    9 m · 4 sec · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Broadway Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · West Broadway Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right

    1751 ft · 48 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    25 mi · 28 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 41 North, US 150: Terre Haute

    48.6 mi · 1 hr

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 641 North

    2219 ft · 42 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    5.5 mi · 6 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I-70 East: Indianapolis

    3072 ft · 58 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    10.7 mi · 12 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 59: Brazil, Linton

    1730 ft · 35 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto State Route 59

    3.8 mi · 5 min · State Route 59

  12. 12

    Continue on South Forest Avenue

    24.1 mi · 37 min · South Forest Avenue

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn right

    2.6 mi · 4 min

  14. 14

    Turn left

    2.7 mi · 4 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Cross Street

    1853 ft · 33 sec · Cross Street

  16. 16

    Turn right

    13.2 mi · 20 min

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South Washington Street

    11.7 mi · 18 min · South Washington Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Holden Street

    137 m · 8 sec · Holden Street

  19. 19

    Turn slight left onto North Main Street

    104 m · 6 sec · North Main Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Base Line Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Base Line Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Base Line Rd

    4 mi · 6 min · Base Line Rd

  22. 22

    Continue on Base Line Road

    8.1 mi · 12 min · Base Line Road

  23. 23

    Turn right

    1.3 km · 1 min

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Old US Highway 231

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Old US Highway 231

  25. 25

    Turn left onto South 18th Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · South 18th Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Douglas Street

    151 m · 24 sec · Douglas Street

  27. 27

    Turn right

    56 m · 13 sec

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Princeton and Lafayette.

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
28 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 41 North
48.6 mi · 29%
West Broadway Street
26.8 mi · 16%
South Forest Avenue
24.1 mi · 14%
South Washington Street
11.7 mi · 7%
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
10.7 mi · 6%
Base Line Road
9.68 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

US 41 North

Take the exit slight right toward US 41 North, US 150: Terre Haute

48.6 mi · 01h 00m

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
03h 48m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.2 mi
147.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Seelyville
01h 54m from Princeton
Leave By
9:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Princeton and Scattered Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Lafayette.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Princeton to Lafayette?

The road trip is about 169.3 miles (272.4 km) and usually takes 03h 48m 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?

Seelyville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.7 miles from Princeton and 84.6 miles from Lafayette.

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

The direct path is about 147.1 miles (236.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.2 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.51 one way or $45.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Princeton and Lafayette, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Princeton and Scattered Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Lafayette.

Stop Ideas Near Seelyville

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

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

RAIL

Crawfordsville

69 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

72 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
BUS

Danville, Illinois

77 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Mattoon station

95 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Princeton and Lafayette. Straight-line distance: 147.15 mi (236.81 km).

Princeton

#1 Princeton

City in Indiana, United States

Population8,793
Coordinates38.3553200, -87.5675200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Lafayette

#2 Lafayette

The most populous city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

Population71,484
Coordinates40.4167000, -86.8752900
Altitude211
CountryUnited States
Start: Princeton (-87.56752, 38.35532)
End: Lafayette (-86.87529, 40.4167)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 272 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.97 gal
22.61 L · about $22.51
Round trip
$45.03
11.94 gal · 45.22 L
Estimated CO2
53.1 kg one way
Round trip: 106.1 kg / 234 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.51 $45.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.39 $50.78
Premium $4.65 $27.78 $55.57
Diesel $5.30 $31.66 $63.33

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 22, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Princeton, IN and Lafayette, IN. The current time in Princeton is 18:10:54, although it is 19:10:54 in Lafayette.

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.