How far is West Lafayette, IN from Madison, IN?
The driving distance from West Lafayette, IN to Madison, IN is about 157.1 miles (252.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 142.3 miles (229 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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 03h 25m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
The most populous city in Johnson County, Indiana.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between West Lafayette and Madison.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Lafayette and Madison.
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1
Start on Northwestern Avenue
13 m · 2 sec · Northwestern Avenue
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2
Turn right onto Vine Street
84 m · 16 sec · Vine Street
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3
Turn right onto Wiggins Street
1627 ft · 48 sec · Wiggins Street
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4
Continue on Old US Highway 231
1 km · 1 min · Old US Highway 231
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5
Continue on Union Street
1.6 mi · 4 min · Union Street
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6
Turn right onto North Earl Avenue
2673 ft · 1 min · North Earl Avenue
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7
Turn left onto South Street
2 mi · 4 min · South Street
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8
Take the ramp right toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
1898 ft · 25 sec
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9
Merge slight left
42.4 mi · 46 min
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10
Keep slight left
17.1 mi · 22 min
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11
Continue on I 70 East: Dayton
1.9 mi · 3 min
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12
Keep slight left
41.9 mi · 47 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward SR 46: Columbus, Nashville, Bloomington
855 ft · 19 sec
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14
Keep slight left
591 ft · 16 sec
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15
Merge slight right onto Jonathan Moore Pike
2.7 mi · 6 min · Jonathan Moore Pike
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16
Continue on State Street
3.9 mi · 6 min · State Street
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17
Continue straight
18.5 mi · 29 min
-
18
Turn slight left onto One Street
87 m · 5 sec · One Street
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19
Continue on Jackson Street
851 ft · 14 sec · Jackson Street
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20
Turn straight
1476 ft · 27 sec
-
21
Keep slight left
19.9 mi · 30 min
-
22
Turn slight right
130 m · 8 sec
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23
Turn right onto Cragmont Street
1.7 mi · 3 min · Cragmont Street
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24
Turn left onto West Main Street
1.2 km · 1 min · West Main Street
-
25
Turn right onto West Street
56 m · 9 sec · West Street
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26
Turn left
22 m · 5 sec
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between West Lafayette and Madison.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 65 South
Merge slight left
42.4 mi · 00h 46m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving West Lafayette and Sunny near Madison.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from West Lafayette to Madison?
The road trip is about 157.1 miles (252.8 km) and usually takes 03h 25m 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?
Greenwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 78.5 miles from West Lafayette and 78.5 miles from Madison.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 142.3 miles (229 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.8 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 10:08 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.89 one way or $41.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around West Lafayette and Sunny near Madison.
Stop Ideas Near Greenwood
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Greenwood.
Indianapolis Union Station
Connersville station
Crawfordsville
Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between West Lafayette and Madison. Straight-line distance: 142.32 mi (229.04 km).
#1 West Lafayette
The most populous city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana.
| Population | 51,605 |
| Coordinates | 40.4258700, -86.9080700 |
| Altitude | 186 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Madison
County seat of Jefferson County, Indiana, United States
| Population | 11,750 |
| Coordinates | 38.7358900, -85.3799600 |
| Altitude | 149 |
| Country | United States |
End: Madison (-85.37996, 38.73589)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 253 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 14m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 37m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 57m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $20.89 | $41.78 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $23.56 | $47.12 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $25.78 | $51.57 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $29.38 | $58.77 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.