SR 26 runs for as an almost entirely east–west
undivided surface highway in central Indiana. Most of the highway is two-lane undivided rural highway. There is a section east of
Lafayette that is a four-lane highway. The road exists in two segments with the first running between the
Illinois border, near the town of
Ambia, and near
West Lafayette. The second segment is routed between Lafayette and the
Ohio border.
Western segment SR 26 is a two-lane highway that connects with
Illinois Route 9 and
SR 352 at the Illinois state line in western
Warren County. The road heads east passing through agricultural land, before turning south concurrent with
U.S. Route 41 (US 41). The concurrency heads southeast, before SR 26 leaves the concurrency heading east towards Lafayette. The road makes a few curves, but the roadway stays generally east–west in direction. North of
Pine Village SR 26 joins
SR 55. The concurrency enters town on Main Street. At the intersection of Main Street and Lafayette Street, SR 26 turns east onto Lafayette Street, while SR 55 continues south on Main Street. The street passes some businesses before reaching the east side of town. The road enters rural Warren County before entering rural
Tippecanoe County. The highway turns towards the southwest before passing by many houses on the west edge of West Lafayette. SR 26 passes north of
Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources Farm, before an intersection with
US 52/
US 231. At this intersection the SR 26 designation ends, but the roadway continues east as State Street, passing through West Lafayette and heading towards Lafayette.
Eastern segment The eastern segment of SR 26 begins, as a continuation of South Street, at an interchange with I-65 on the east side of Lafayette. The road heads east as a four-lane highway, passing through both commercial and residential properties. As the road continues east it becomes a two-lane road, with some curves, and passes through farmland. The highway enters rural
Clinton County, before entering
Rossville. In Rossville SR 26 is concurrent with Main Street and passes through a business district. The business district becomes houses as the street heads east. The road enters the downtown area of Rossville passing through an intersection with Plank Street (
US 421/
SR 39). East of Plank Street, SR 26 passes more houses before leaving Rossville. East of Rossville, SR 26 passes through agricultural land, heading due east towards Kokomo. In rural Clinton County SR 26 has an intersection with
SR 75, before passing through
Sedalia and
Geetingsville. The road enters
Middlefork and has an intersection with
SR 29. East of Middlefork the highway enters
Howard County. ==History==