How far is West Lafayette, IN from Charlestown, IN?

The driving distance from West Lafayette, IN to Charlestown, IN is about 167.1 miles (269 km), with a travel time of about 03h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 151.5 miles (243.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 38m 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
167.17 mi
03h 19m
Flight
151.46 mi
243.75 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Lafayette.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
151.46 mi
Kilometers
243.75 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
167.17 mi
Kilometers
269.04 km
Drive Time
03h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charlestown
Wed, Apr 15, 3:17 AM EDT
Return by in West Lafayette
Wed, Apr 15, 6:36 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Lafayette
2026-04-14T23:58
Arrive Charlestown
Wed, Apr 15, 3:17 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:19 AM to 11:19 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:22 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in West Lafayette
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
Whiteland
IN

City in Johnson County, Indiana, United States of America

From West Lafayette
83.6 mi
01h 39m
To Charlestown
83.6 mi
01h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Tuesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 to 16 mph SSW
Destination
86°F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Lafayette and Charlestown.

  1. 1

    Start on Northwestern Avenue

    13 m · 2 sec · Northwestern Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Vine Street

    84 m · 16 sec · Vine Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Wiggins Street

    1627 ft · 48 sec · Wiggins Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Old US Highway 231

    1 km · 1 min · Old US Highway 231

  5. 5

    Continue on Union Street

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Union Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto North Earl Avenue

    2673 ft · 1 min · North Earl Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn left onto South Street

    2 mi · 4 min · South Street

  8. 8

    Take the ramp right toward I 65 South: Indianapolis

    1898 ft · 25 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    42.4 mi · 46 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    17.1 mi · 22 min

  11. 11

    Continue on I 70 East: Dayton

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    90.9 mi · 1 hr 40 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 160: Henryville, Charlestown

    1344 ft · 25 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    23 m · 2 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left

    3108 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Continue on County Road 160

    8.4 mi · 15 min · County Road 160

  17. 17

    Turn left onto County Road 403

    130 m · 11 sec · County Road 403

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · County Road 403

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 East
92.9 mi · 56%
I 65 South
59.8 mi · 36%
County Road 160
8.43 mi · 5%
South Street
2.03 mi · 1%
Union Street
1.6 mi · 1%
Old US Highway 231
0.62 mi
Longest Stretch

I 70 East

Keep slight left

90.9 mi · 01h 40m

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 19m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.6 mi
151.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Whiteland
01h 39m from West Lafayette
Leave By
10:22 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Light Rain Likely leaving West Lafayette and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Charlestown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from West Lafayette to Charlestown?

The road trip is about 167.1 miles (269 km) and usually takes 03h 19m 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?

Whiteland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 83.6 miles from West Lafayette and 83.6 miles from Charlestown.

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

The direct path is about 151.5 miles (243.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.6 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:22 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.25 one way or $44.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain Likely around West Lafayette and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Charlestown.

Stop Ideas Near Whiteland

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

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

RAIL

Indianapolis Union Station

25 mi away
350 South Illinois Street
RAIL

Connersville station

82 mi away
1012 Eastern Avenue
RAIL

Crawfordsville

89 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

92 mi away
1000 Smith Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between West Lafayette and Charlestown. Straight-line distance: 151.46 mi (243.75 km).

West Lafayette

#1 West Lafayette

The most populous city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

Population51,605
Coordinates40.4258700, -86.9080700
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Charlestown

#2 Charlestown

City in Clark County, Indiana, United States

Population8,544
Coordinates38.4531200, -85.6702400
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Start: West Lafayette (-86.90807, 40.42587)
End: Charlestown (-85.67024, 38.45312)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 269 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.9 gal
22.33 L · about $22.25
Round trip
$44.50
11.8 gal · 44.66 L
Estimated CO2
52.4 kg one way
Round trip: 104.9 kg / 231 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.25 $44.50
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.09 $50.19
Premium $4.65 $27.46 $54.92
Diesel $5.30 $31.29 $62.59

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between West Lafayette and Charlestown. The current time is 23:58:05.

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.