I-74 covers 171.54 miles (276.07 km) across Indiana, a portion of which is concurrently routed through Indianapolis along the southern and western legs of I-465.

The Interstate retains its configuration as a four-lane freeway, and passes by an eastbound rest area just east of the state line.

I-74 ascends from river crossing and comes to a diamond interchange with South Stringtown Road, which provides access to the city of Covington to the north.

The concurrent portions around Indianapolis on I-465, consisting of seven separate sections along the west and south legs of that beltway, became operational between December 21, 1961, and October 15, 1964.

[3] The first section of I-74 to be built in Indiana was the portion from the Illinois state line east for just under eight miles (13 km) to the Covington exit just beyond the Wabash River, which opened to traffic in December 1960.

The final 13.5-mile (21.7 km) segment, located in Fountain and Montgomery counties on the western portion of the route, was finished and opened on August 31, 1967, marking the full completion of I-74 in the state.