Why "Crossroads of America"?
Indiana earned its motto "The Crossroads of America" for good reason: more major interstate highways intersect in Indiana than in any other state. The state's central location makes it a natural hub for freight, logistics, and distribution.
Indianapolis is reachable within a day's drive by roughly 65% of the U.S. population. This geography — combined with low costs, a strong labor pool, and business-friendly infrastructure — has made Indiana one of the nation's top states for logistics, warehousing, and distribution. Over 8,500 distribution centers operate statewide, moving more than 822 million tons of freight annually.
Interstate Highway System
More major interstate highways converge in Indianapolis than in any other U.S. city. The state's interstate system connects Indiana to every neighboring state and beyond.
| Interstate | Miles | Route |
|---|---|---|
| I-65 | 262 | Gary to Jeffersonville (north-south through Indianapolis) |
| I-69 | 261 | Indianapolis to Michigan border (completed 2024 from Evansville to Indianapolis) |
| I-70 | 157 | Terre Haute to Richmond (east-west through Indianapolis) |
| I-74 | 171 | Crawfordsville to Cincinnati (southeast through Indianapolis) |
| I-80/90 | 157 | Indiana Toll Road, Gary to Ohio border (northern east-west) |
| I-64 | 124 | New Albany to Mount Vernon (southern east-west) |
| I-465 | 53 | Indianapolis beltway loop |
| I-469 | 31 | Fort Wayne bypass |
| I-265 | 17 | New Albany bypass |
Road Network Breakdown
Airports
| Airport | Code | Annual Passengers | Runways | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis International Airport | IND | 9.8M | 2 | Second-largest FedEx hub in the world |
| Fort Wayne International Airport | FWA | 0.5M | 2 | — |
| South Bend International Airport | SBN | 0.4M | 2 | — |
| Evansville Regional Airport | EVV | 0.3M | 2 | — |
| Gary/Chicago International Airport | GYY | 0.1M | 2 | Overflow for Chicago metro |
Ports of Indiana
Indiana operates three major ports — one on Lake Michigan and two on the Ohio River — handling nearly 10 million tons of cargo annually.
Rail Network
| Total Rail Miles | 4,255 |
| Class I Railroads | 4 |
| Short Line Railroads | 42 |
| Amtrak Stations | 10 |
Class I Railroads
Amtrak Routes
- Cardinal (Indianapolis-Chicago-NYC)
- Lake Shore Limited (Waterloo-Chicago-NYC)
- Capitol Limited (Waterloo-Chicago-Washington DC)
Freight & Logistics
Indianapolis International Airport is the second-largest FedEx hub in the world, processing millions of packages daily. Combined with the state's interstate network, rail connections, and Ohio River ports, Indiana moves an astonishing volume of goods. The top freight corridors — I-70, I-65, and the I-465 loop — see some of the highest truck traffic volumes in the Midwest.