# Indianapolis to Monrovia Indiana: 30-Minute Drive Time > A 30-minute drive from Indianapolis to Monrovia, Indiana: 24.6 miles west on I-70 to Exit 59. Plan rush-hour timing, airport options and rental cars. Canonical: https://forestparklodge.com/area/getting-here-from-indianapolis/ Last updated: 2026-11-02 By The Forest Park Lodge team. ## Key takeaways - From Indianapolis, take I-70 west to Exit 59 and follow State Road 39 south into town, about 30 minutes in typical traffic with no tolls. - Leave downtown before 4:00 PM or after 6:00 PM, since I-70 rush hour congestion can slow a Friday afternoon departure. - Fly into Indianapolis International Airport, about 20 minutes from Monrovia, where the rental counters are a short covered walk from baggage claim. - Reserve rental minivans and SUVs as soon as flights are booked for late May or summer weekends, when prices spike around the Indy 500. - A group should rent cars rather than rely on rides, since there is no direct bus or train and getting out to eat requires driving. - Ask ahead if you want the pool warmer, since the request needs at least a day's notice, and unload quietly on late arrivals because quiet hours run from 10 PM to 8 AM. Indianapolis to Monrovia, Indiana is about a 30-minute drive in typical traffic: 24.6 road miles west on Interstate 70 to Exit 59, then south on State Road 39 into town. Guests flying in land at Indianapolis International Airport, about 20 minutes from Monrovia (15 miles), where the rental counters are a short covered walk from baggage claim. Forest Park Lodge is in Monrovia, Indiana, a small town in northern Morgan County. ## Ways to get here from Indianapolis There is no direct bus or train from Indianapolis to Monrovia. Driving is both the fastest and the cheapest way to make the trip. | Way | Time | Cost | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Drive from Indianapolis | About 30 minutes, 24.6 road miles on I-70 to Exit 59 | About $4 to $7 in fuel, as of October 2026 | Families and groups carrying luggage and food for the stay | | Fly into Indianapolis International Airport, then a rental car | About 20 minutes from Monrovia (15 miles) | Rentals from $29 a day and about $58 a day on average, as of October 2026 | Out-of-state guests who want a car for the whole stay | | Taxi from Indianapolis | About 29 minutes | Fares from the airport carry a $15 minimum, as of October 2026, and can rise for trips outside the Indianapolis area | Guests who would rather not drive | | IndyGo Line 8 bus, then a taxi | About 56 minutes, including the transfer | Ask the taxi driver for the rate before the ride | One traveler without a car | A taxi fare can also rise with extra luggage, so ask the driver for the rate before you set off. ## The drive from Indianapolis Interstate 70 does almost all the work. Leave the city on I-70 heading west. Downtown Indianapolis is 24 miles northeast of Monrovia, and the interstate passes 2 miles north of town. Take Exit 59, at State Road 39. From the ramp, follow SR 39 south into the center of town, where it becomes Chestnut Street. State Road 42 crosses the middle of town as Main Street. Those two roads are all you need to find your way around. ### Indianapolis to Monrovia drive time Plan on about 30 minutes from downtown Indianapolis. That figure assumes typical traffic, so build in extra room when the whole group needs to arrive before a dinner or a rehearsal. I-70 can get congested during weekday rush hours, 7:00 to 9:00 AM and 4:00 to 6:00 PM. A Friday departure from downtown in the late afternoon runs straight into that window. Leaving before 4:00 PM, or after 6:00 PM, is the easier trip. Construction projects are common, especially in the summer months, and construction zones often drop to 45 to 55 mph with doubled fines. Allow extra time then, and during holidays and major conventions. There are no toll roads around Indianapolis, so no toll pass is needed for this drive. ### Getting your bearings Two state roads meet in Monrovia, and the towns along them make road signs easy to read: - **Mooresville** is 6 miles northeast on SR 42. - **Belleville** is 7 miles north on SR 39. - **Martinsville**, the Morgan County seat, is 12 miles south on SR 39. - **Little Point** is 9 miles west on SR 42. Monrovia's largest annual event, the Monrovia Festival, is held the weekend after Labor Day. If your stay falls on that weekend, expect a busier town center. Our guide to [Monrovia, Indiana](https://forestparklodge.com/area/monrovia-indiana/) covers the town itself. ## Flying in instead of driving from Indianapolis Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is the major airport in Indiana and the one we point nearly every guest toward. Here is how the three airports within driving range compare: - **Indianapolis International Airport**: about 20 minutes from Monrovia (15 miles). Best for almost everyone, with rental counters, rideshare pickup and car services all at the airport's [Ground Transportation Center](https://www.ind.com/transportation-car-rental). - **Columbus Municipal Airport**: about 57 minutes from the lodge by car. Best for a guest whose flight there is clearly cheaper or better timed. - **Terre Haute Regional Airport**: about 67 minutes from the lodge by car. Best only when the schedule there fits far better than IND's. Each of the two smaller airports adds more than half an hour of driving compared with IND. Guests coming from abroad should know that most flights from outside the United States do not fly directly to Indianapolis. Book the connecting flight to IND along with the first leg. ### If your flight is late, delayed or cancelled Hotels within five miles of IND offer courtesy vehicles to travelers. A group whose flight lands very late can stay near the airport and drive out the next morning in daylight. The Guest Services desk sits in Civic Plaza, just beyond Ticketing Hall, and can help with rides, a local phone call or directions. Its hours are 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM Sunday through Friday and 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Saturday. The phone number is 317-487-7243. ## Rental cars and rides from Indianapolis Rental cars, rideshare and black car services at IND all start at the Ground Transportation Center, on the first floor of the Terminal Garage. Taxis wait at the terminal curb instead. ### Rental cars The rental counters are about a 5-minute walk from baggage claim along a covered walkway, so no shuttle is needed. Companies there include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty, with everything from affordable cars to SUVs and minivans. - **Join the company's free loyalty program before you land.** Members can often skip the counter and go straight to the car. - **Pick up in the mid-afternoon if you can.** Counters are usually quietest from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and busiest at midday and early evening, when many flights land at once. - **Compare an off-airport office.** Locations 2 to 3 miles from IND skip the airport concession fee of around 10 percent, though you need a shuttle or rideshare to reach them. - **Check the weekly rate.** A 7-day rate can cost less than 5 or 6 single days, so shifting pickup or return by a few hours can pay off. - **Return the car on time.** Drop it off at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one. For a larger group, [Avis rents cars across Indiana](https://www.avis.com/en/locations/nam/us/in), including at Indianapolis International Airport, and its lineup includes minivans and premium SUVs. ### Taxis, rideshare and car services - **Taxis** wait at the curb on the lower level, just outside Baggage Claim. Keep some US cash on hand in case a card does not work. - **Uber and Lyft** pick up at the Ground Transportation Center. You need cellular data for the whole trip and a credit card that works in the US, since drivers cannot take cash. - **Black car services** offer shared rides and private limousines in a wide range of vehicle sizes. Reserve ahead to lock in the time and the price. - **The bus and taxi route** is the way to make the trip without a car. Take the IndyGo Line 8 bus to the W. Perimeter Rd and Bridgeport Rd stop, then a taxi to Monrovia, about 56 minutes in all. ### When a group should rent A reunion or a wedding party will want to get out: restaurants are 10 to 20 minutes from the lodge by car. Weigh that before choosing rides over a rental. Our [family reunion checklist](https://forestparklodge.com/guides/family-reunion-checklist/) covers the rest of the arrival-day planning. Reserve rental minivans and SUVs at IND as soon as your flights are booked if you travel in late May or on a summer weekend: prices spike around the Indy 500 and on summer weekends. ## Stops between Indianapolis and the lodge A few planned stops help a group arrive with full tanks and a stocked kitchen: - **Speedway and Shell stations on Airport Expressway**: about 2 miles from IND. Best for topping off a rental tank before you return it, which beats the rental company's per-gallon refill charge. Keep the receipt. - **Hotels near IND**: those within five miles of the airport offer courtesy vehicles. Best for a flight that lands very late, so the group can drive out the next morning. - **Supermarkets near Monrovia**: 5 to 15 minutes from the lodge. Best for the big grocery run once the group is off the interstate. - **Morgan County towns**: Mooresville is 6 miles northeast on SR 42, and Martinsville is 12 miles south on SR 39. Best for a supply run once you are settled, and our page on [Mooresville and Martinsville](https://forestparklodge.com/area/mooresville-and-martinsville/) covers groceries in the nearby towns. You do not need to haul everything from the city. Pick up breakfast for the first morning, so no one has to drive out before coffee. ## Arriving at the lodge Check-in is at 5:00 PM with check-out at 11:00 AM, or check-in at 4:00 PM with check-out at 10:00 AM. If your flight lands early, the drive from the airport is short enough to take your time with lunch or groceries first. There is plenty of parking on the property, which helps when a group arrives in several rentals. There is no street parking, so do not leave cars along the road. A few things to sort out first: - **Ask about the pool before you travel.** Guests can ask for the pool to be warmer, up to 85°F, for $125 per 5 degrees per day, with at least a day's notice. - **Mind quiet hours on a late arrival.** Quiet hours run from 10 PM to 8 AM, so a car pulling in late should unload quietly. - **Send the travel details to anyone still coming.** Hotels and short-term rentals for extra wedding guests are 5 to 15 minutes away, and those guests will want the airport and drive times early. Our [questions and answers](https://forestparklodge.com/faq/) cover more about the stay itself, and [the area around the lodge](https://forestparklodge.com/area/) has ideas once everyone is here. ## Questions ### How much does gas cost to drive from Indianapolis to Monrovia? Fuel for the 24.6 road miles runs about $4 to $7 as of October 2026. There are no tolls on the way, which makes driving the cheapest option. ### Can I get from Indianapolis to Monrovia without a car? Yes. Take the IndyGo Line 8 bus to the W. Perimeter Rd and Bridgeport Rd stop, then a taxi into Monrovia, about 56 minutes in all. Ask the taxi driver for the rate before the ride. ### What does a taxi from the Indianapolis airport to Monrovia cost? Airport fares carry a $15 minimum as of October 2026 and can rise for trips outside the Indianapolis area or with extra luggage. Indianapolis International Airport is about 20 minutes from Monrovia (15 miles), and it helps to carry some US cash in case a card does not work. ### How much is a rental car at Indianapolis airport? Rentals start from $29 a day and average about $58 a day as of October 2026. An office 2 to 3 miles from the airport can skip the roughly 10 percent concession fee, and a 7-day rate may cost less than 5 or 6 single days. ### What should we do if our flight lands too late to drive to Monrovia? Hotels within five miles of the airport offer courtesy vehicles, so the group can stay near the airport and drive out in daylight the next morning. The airport Guest Services desk in Civic Plaza can also help with rides or directions. ### Where should I refuel a rental car before returning it to the Indianapolis airport? Speedway and Shell stations on Airport Expressway are about 2 miles from the airport. Filling up there beats the rental company's per-gallon refill charge, so keep the receipt. ## Sources - [Indianapolis International Airport transportation and car rental](https://www.ind.com/transportation-car-rental) - [Avis](https://www.avis.com/en/locations/nam/us/in) - [Rome2rio](https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Indianapolis/Monrovia-IN-USA) - [Travelmath](https://www.travelmath.com/driving-time/from/Monrovia,+IN/to/Indianapolis,+IN) - [Roadgenius](https://roadgenius.com/cars/rental/usa/indianapolis-in/ind-airport/) - [International Indianapolis Iu](https://international.indianapolis.iu.edu/after-admission/travel-arrangements/airport.html) - [Travelmath](https://www.travelmath.com/nearest-airport/Monrovia,+IN) - [Monrovia, Indiana (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monrovia,_Indiana) - [Drive times: © openrouteservice by HeiGIT | Data from OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright) ## Related - [The lodge](https://forestparklodge.com/lodge/) - [The area](https://forestparklodge.com/area/)