Origin
Concord, IN
Afternoon in Concord on Saturday
Local time
2:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Concord, IN to Portage, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 3m
Distance
158.6 mi
255 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 52m
★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 13m
5 PM
3h 26m
8 PM
2h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Concord, IN
Michiel Meurs
Portage, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Concord, IN to Portage, IN covers 158.6 miles and takes about 3h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Indiana Toll Road, I 69, SR 8 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 119.9 miles on Indiana Toll Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.3 miles from Concord, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 119.9 mi | 2h 9m |
| I 69 | 26.5 mi | 28m |
| SR 8 | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| County Road 51 | 2.4 mi | 9m |
| Willowcreek Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Indiana Toll Road
— 119.9 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, IN and Portage, IN.
1
Start on CR 51
2.4 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road 51
2
Turn left onto SR 8
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
SR 8
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
4
Merge onto I 69
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 69
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 356
Toward I 80 Toll, I 90 Toll: Chicago, Toledo
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
7
Merge onto I 80; I 90
120 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 23
Toward Portage
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
155 ft
·
10 sec
10
Turn left onto Willowcreek Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Willowcreek Road
11
Turn left onto Central Avenue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Central Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.3 miles from Concord, IN, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 35 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.3 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portage, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Concord, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Concord, IN
This is one driving day of about 158.6 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Concord, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Indiana Toll Road for about 119.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.3 miles from Concord, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Indiana Toll Road if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 119.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 157 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
SR 8
Turn left onto SR 8
Navigation decision point
5
9.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 69
Merge onto I 69
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
36.2 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward I 80 Toll, I 90 Toll: Chicago, Toledo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 356
Toward I 80 Toll, I 90 Toll: Chicago, Toledo
5
37.2 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
I 80; I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge onto I 80; I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
157 mi into trip
|
~3h in
Take the exit toward Portage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23
Toward Portage
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.80 one way
$49.59 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.22 | $54.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.52 | $61.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.02 | $70.03 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.39
Indiana Toll Road
(119.9 mi)
$8.39
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.65 | $7.61 |
| Efficient EV | 39.7 | 0 | $13.88 | $6.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.4 | 0 | $22.20 | $10.15 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (65% 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
Portage, IN
Afternoon in Portage on Saturday
Local time
1:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 3m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
$20
near mile 153.1
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park Closure: Mount Baldy Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
158.6 mi in 3h 3m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.9 mi on Indiana Toll Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
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 2.4 miles in near SR 8.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 158.6 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 2.4 miles (SR 8): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Concord, IN to Portage, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Toledo along the way.
Toledo
36.2 mi in
|
~49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 3m. Total distance: 158.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.9 miles on Indiana Toll Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.39 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Portage, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (SR 8): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Portage, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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