Origin
Elkhart, IN
Night in Elkhart on Tuesday
Local time
11:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elkhart, IN to Cedar Lake, IN
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
2h 12m
Distance
101.7 mi
164 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 3m
★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 31m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elkhart, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Lake, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Elkhart, IN to Cedar Lake, IN covers 101.7 miles and takes about 2h 12m 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, Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.7 miles on Indiana Toll Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.90 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
50.9 miles from Elkhart, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 12m drive with frequent turns across 101.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Indiana Toll Road is the longest continuous segment at about 70.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 101.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.3 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 32 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
4.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
8
75.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
I 80
Take the exit onto I 80 toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines
8
75.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East
8
76 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 94 West, I 80 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West
8
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elkhart, IN and Cedar Lake, IN, road signs point toward Indianapolis and Chicago.
Indianapolis
79 mi in
|
~1h 31m
Chicago
79.6 mi in
|
~1h 31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 70.7 mi | 1h 16m |
| Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| I 80 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| West 109th Avenue | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Cline Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Cassopolis Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Lakeshore Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Indiana Toll Road
— 70.7 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elkhart, IN and Cedar Lake, IN.
1
Start on Pletcher Court
293 ft
·
18 sec
·
Pletcher Court
2
Turn right onto West Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Franklin Street
3
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
South 2nd Street
4
Turn right onto West Jackson Boulevard
422 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Jackson Boulevard
5
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto SR 19
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Bristol Street
7
Turn left onto SR 19
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Cassopolis Street
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
9
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
this road
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
11
Merge onto I 80; I 90
71 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto I 80
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
Exit 21
Toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 80
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 12
Toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Toward I 65 South, I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Indianapolis, Chicago
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Use the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto I 65
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 249
Toward 109th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
this road
Exit 249
Toward 109th Avenue
21
Continue on East 109th Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 109th Avenue
22
Turn left onto SR 53
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Broadway
23
Turn right onto West 113th Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 113th Avenue
24
At end of road, turn right onto US 231
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Joliet Street
25
Turn right onto US 231; SR 55
399 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Main Street
26
Turn left onto US 231; SR 55
295 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Clark Street
Use the left lane.
27
Turn left onto US 231; SR 55
240 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Court Street
28
Turn right onto US 231
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
West 109th Avenue
29
Turn left onto Cline Avenue
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Cline Avenue
30
Enter roundabout onto West Lakeshore Drive
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
West Lakeshore Drive
31
Continue on West Lakeshore Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Lakeshore Drive
32
Continue on West 133rd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West 133rd Avenue
33
Turn left onto Parrish Avenue
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Parrish Avenue
34
Turn left onto West 135th Place
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
West 135th Place
35
Continue on Doffin Street
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Doffin Street
36
At end of road, turn left onto West 137th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
West 137th Avenue
37
Turn right onto Birch Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Birch Street
38
Turn right onto Lauerman Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Lauerman Street
39
Arrive at destination
Lauerman Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.9 miles from Elkhart, IN, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.7 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.9 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Lake, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elkhart, 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 Elkhart, IN
This is one driving day of about 101.7 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elkhart, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Indiana Toll Road for about 70.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.9 mi from Elkhart, IN · 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.9 miles from Elkhart, 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 70.7 miles.
Arriving in Cedar Lake, IN
The final approach into Cedar Lake, 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 Cedar Lake, IN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.90 one way
$31.80 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.46 | $34.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.57 | $39.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.45 | $44.91 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.95
Indiana Toll Road
(70.7 mi)
$4.95
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
$16
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.68 | $4.88 |
| Efficient EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.90 | $4.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.24 | $6.51 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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
Cedar Lake, IN
Night in Cedar Lake on Tuesday
Local time
10:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
3 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
2h 12m 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 Elkhart, IN to Cedar Lake, IN covers 101.7 miles and takes about 2h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Indiana Toll Road, Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.9 miles from Elkhart, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.90 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 is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 101.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.3 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Elkhart, IN and Cedar Lake, IN, road signs point toward Indianapolis and Chicago.
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