Drive or Fly: Portage, IN to Lowell, IN?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for GYY–IND. At 197 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 47m

Distance

197 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

80 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 36m

21m in the air

Air Distance

173 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Portage, IN → GYY 19m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IND → Lowell, IN 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Portage, IN GYY — Gary/Chicago International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

Lowell, IN IND — Indianapolis International Airport 37 mi, ~56m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GYY and IND. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 57m

3h 55m on rail

Total Cost

$28

CO2

8 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Portage, IN → Dyer Amtrak 27m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 235m

Arrival 10m

Indianapolis → Lowell, IN 55m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Dyer Amtrak 18 mi, ~27m drive

To Indianapolis 37 mi, ~55m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 47m	3h 36m	5h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$127	$28
Carbon footprint	80 kg CO₂	44 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Portage, IN to Lowell, IN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.