Origin
Gary, IN
Evening in Gary on Wednesday
Local time
6:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gary, IN to Fairmount, IN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
153.2 mi
247 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 5m
★
6 AM
3h 17m
8 AM
3h 41m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 23m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 40m
8 PM
3h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gary, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Fairmount, IN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This 153.2-mile drive from Gary, Indiana, to Fairmount, Indiana, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 17 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and SR 26, with about 40% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest journey is around $24. Given its reasonable length and duration, this route is well-suited for a focused day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The overall feel is a practical, mixed drive through familiar Indiana landscapes.
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
76.6 miles from Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
The character of this drive is a mixed bag, offering a blend of highway and local road experiences. With 40% of the route on highways, you'll find some stretches of faster travel, but expect to transition to more local roads as you progress. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 85.7 miles along the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, providing a solid segment of consistent driving. The road profile is described as 'Mixed drive,' suggesting a varied pace and scenery that keeps things interesting without being overly demanding. This means you'll likely experience both open highway conditions and more winding, potentially slower, local routes.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 85.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Harrison Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Gary, IN to Fairmount, IN is easy. At 3h 17m with 40% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West 11th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Madison Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Harrison Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 11th Avenue
Turn left onto West 11th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Madison Street
Turn right onto Madison Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
90.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward SR 26: Rossville, Lafayette
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 172
Toward SR 26: Rossville, Lafayette
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 Gary, IN to Fairmount, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Lafayette along the way.
Lafayette
90.5 mi in
|
~1h 43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway | 85.7 mi | 1h 33m |
| SR 26 | 60.8 mi | 1h 29m |
| Martin Luther King Drive | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| West 15th Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| East 950 S | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South East 00 West | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Washington Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Madison Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 85.7 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gary, IN and Fairmount, IN.
1
Start on 10th Place
55 ft
·
4 sec
·
10th Place
2
Turn right onto Harrison Street
480 ft
·
28 sec
·
Harrison Street
3
Turn left onto West 11th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
West 11th Avenue
4
Turn right onto Madison Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Madison Street
5
Turn left onto West 15th Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 15th Avenue
6
Continue on Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Central Avenue
7
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Drive
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Martin Luther King Drive
8
Turn left onto US 6 Business
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Ridge Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
10
Merge onto I 65
86 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 172
Toward SR 26: Rossville, Lafayette
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto SR 26
61 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
SR 26
13
Turn right onto SR 9
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
South East 00 West
14
Turn left onto East 950 S
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 950 S
15
Continue on West Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Washington Street
16
Turn right onto South Main Street
114 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Planning this 3-hour and 17-minute drive from Gary to Fairmount is straightforward due to its manageable length. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and allow ample time for any unscheduled stops. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 85.7-mile stretch on the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $24 is a good baseline, but always factor in potential price variations. Since this is a single-day trip, you can be flexible with your departure time and enjoy the drive without pressure.
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 76.6 miles from Gary, IN, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.7 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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.6 miles or 1h 28m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairmount, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gary, 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 Gary, IN
This is one driving day of about 153.2 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Gary, 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 Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 85.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.6 mi from Gary, IN · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.6 miles from Gary, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85.7 miles.
Arriving in Fairmount, IN
The final approach into Fairmount, 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 Fairmount, 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
$23.95 one way
$47.90 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.30 | $52.59 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.48 | $58.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.82 | $67.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46 | 0 | $16.09 | $7.35 |
| Efficient EV | 38.3 | 0 | $13.40 | $6.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.3 | 0 | $21.45 | $9.80 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Fairmount, IN
Evening in Fairmount on Wednesday
Local time
7:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Lafayette, IN
77 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
7 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 17m 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 Gary, IN to Fairmount, IN covers 153.2 miles and takes about 3h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, SR 26, Martin Luther King Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.6 miles from Gary, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.95 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Gary, IN to Fairmount, IN is easy. At 3h 17m with 40% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West 11th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Madison Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Gary, IN to Fairmount, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Lafayette along the way.
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