Drive Time
5h 35m
Distance
291.4 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
The drive from Dale, IN to Hammond, IN covers 291.4 miles and takes about 5h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Medcalf Street, County Road 300 East, Newton Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
145.7 miles from Dale, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 35m drive with frequent turns across 291.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Medcalf Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 300 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Newton Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South John F Kennedy Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 465 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 52 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Dale, IN and Hammond, IN.
Start on South Washington Street
Turn left onto West Medcalf Street
Continue on County Road 300 East
At the end of the road, turn right
Turn left onto Newton Street
Continue on West Broadway Street
Turn left onto South John F Kennedy Avenue
Take the exit right
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight left toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
Merge slight left
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight left toward I 65 North: Chicago
Merge slight right
Take the exit slight right toward US 52 West
Keep slight left
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
Merge slight left onto Borman Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis Boulevard
Keep slight left to continue on SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
Turn straight onto Indianapolis Boulevard
Turn left onto 173rd Street
Turn right onto Columbia Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.7 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hammond, IN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Dale, 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 Dale, IN
This is one driving day of about 291.4 miles and 5h 35m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 145.7 mi from Dale, IN · 2h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 145.7 miles from Dale, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Hammond, IN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Hammond, IN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$39.58 one way
$79.16 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $44.17 | $88.34 |
| premium | $4.15 | $47.61 | $95.22 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $43.02 | $86.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.4 | 1 | $30.60 | $13.99 |
| Efficient EV | 72.9 | 0 | $25.50 | $11.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.6 | 1 | $40.80 | $18.65 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Dale on Saturday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Hammond on Saturday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
76°F
Cincinnati, OH
146 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Explore more options from Dale, IN or browse trips ending in Hammond, IN.
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