Origin
Burns Harbor, IN
Late night in Burns Harbor on Thursday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burns Harbor, IN to Gary, IN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
26m
Distance
13 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burns Harbor, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Gary, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 14.4-mile drive from Burns Harbor to Gary, Indiana, is easily manageable in about 25 minutes, making it perfect for a quick day trip. You'll navigate primarily using local roads like 10th Street and W Street, with no highway driving involved. Given its brevity, you won't need an overnight stay, and the estimated fuel cost is a modest $2. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward local connection. It's a simple point-to-point journey ideal for those seeking efficiency.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this entire 14.4-mile stretch. With 0% highway share, you'll be on surface streets for the full 25-minute duration. There isn't a 'longest stretch' to speak of, as the route is characterized by frequent intersections and changes in direction. This means staying engaged and paying close attention to navigation is key, as the road constantly requires your input. It's a distinctly urban and suburban transit experience.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dunes Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near 10th Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 13 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (W Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (North Loop Drive): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
10th Street
Turn left onto 10th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
W Street
At end of road, turn right onto W Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
North Loop Drive
Turn right onto North Loop Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
George Nelson Drive
Turn left onto George Nelson Drive
Navigation decision point
5
2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dunes Highway | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| East 5th Avenue | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Melton Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East 4th Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Madison Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| South Boundary Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| W Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| George Nelson Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dunes Highway
— 5.8 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burns Harbor, IN and Gary, IN.
1
Start on R Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
R Street
2
Turn left onto 10th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto W Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
W Street
4
Continue on South Boundary Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Boundary Road
5
Turn right onto North Loop Drive
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Loop Drive
6
Turn left onto George Nelson Drive
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
George Nelson Drive
7
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
208 ft
·
14 sec
9
Turn left onto US 12
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Dunes Highway
10
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Melton Road
11
Continue on US 12; US 20
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East 5th Avenue
12
Continue on US 12; US 20
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East 4th Avenue
13
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Street
14
Turn right onto 10th Place
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
10th Place
15
Arrive at destination
10th Place
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.03 one way
$4.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.23 | $4.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.50 | $5.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.14 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Gary, IN
Late night in Gary on Thursday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
26m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Burns Harbor, IN to Gary, IN covers 13 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dunes Highway, East 5th Avenue, Melton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.5 miles from Burns Harbor, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 13 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (W Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (North Loop Drive): Navigation decision point.
The route from Burns Harbor, IN to Gary, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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