The drive from Gary, IN to Frankton, IN covers 158.1 miles and takes about 3h 20m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, West 200 South, County Road 100 South for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.72 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
79.1 miles from Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 158.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 20m drive with frequent turns across 158.1 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.
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 100 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West 11th Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 20m drive. You will face about 23 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West 11th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West 11th Avenue
Turn left onto West 11th Avenue
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
104.7 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward SR 28: Frankfort, Attica
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 158
Toward SR 28: Frankfort, Attica
5
133.7 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|SR 28 / West 200 South
Enter roundabout onto SR 28 / West 200 South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
133.9 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|West 200 South
Enter roundabout onto West 200 South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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 Frankton, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Attica along the way.
Attica
104.7 mi in|~1h 59m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
100 mi
1h 48m
West 200 South
9.9 mi
14m
County Road 100 South
7.8 mi
11m
SR 28
7.4 mi
11m
East 150 South
5.5 mi
8m
800 North
4 mi
7m
East Wabash Street
3.4 mi
5m
State Road 28
3.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 100 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gary, IN and Frankton, 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
100 mi·1 hr 48 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 158Toward SR 28: Frankfort, AtticaUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto SR 28
7.4 mi·11 min·SR 28
13
Turn straight onto SR 28
1.2 mi·1 min·West Walnut Street
14
Turn right onto US 421; SR 28
406 ft·13 sec·South Hoke Avenue
15
Turn left onto US 421; SR 28
3.4 mi·5 min·East Wabash Street
16
Continue on US 421; SR 28
2.0 mi·2 min·East County Road 50 S
17
Turn right onto US 421; SR 28
0.5 mi·50 sec·US 421; SR 28
18
Turn left onto SR 28
7.8 mi·11 min·County Road 100 South
19
Continue on SR 28
6.1 mi·9 min·West 200 South
20
Enter roundabout onto SR 28
98 ft·1 sec·West 200 South
21
Continue on SR 28
0.1 mi·14 sec·West 200 South
22
Enter roundabout onto SR 28
150 ft·2 sec·West 200 South
23
Continue on SR 28
0.1 mi·12 sec·West 200 South
24
Enter roundabout onto West 200 South
109 ft·1 sec·West 200 South
25
Continue on West 200 South
3.4 mi·5 min·West 200 South
26
Continue on West Old State Road 28
0.7 mi·1 min·West Old State Road 28
27
Continue on West Jefferson Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West Jefferson Street
28
Continue on SR 28
4.0 mi·6 min·East 150 South
29
Continue on SR 28
3.2 mi·4 min·State Road 28
30
Continue on SR 28
1.5 mi·2 min·East 150 South
31
Continue on SR 28
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
32
Turn right onto SR 13
2.0 mi·3 min·South Anderson Street
33
Turn right onto SR 37; SR 13
2.4 mi·2 min·SR 37; SR 13
34
Turn left onto SR 128
4.0 mi·7 min·800 North
35
At end of road, turn left onto SR 128
0.1 mi·11 sec·Highland Avenue
36
Turn right onto SR 128
0.2 mi·27 sec·West Plum Street
37
Turn left onto SR 128
0.1 mi·13 sec·Center Road
38
Turn right onto SR 128
0.2 mi·16 sec·West Sigler Street
39
Arrive at destination
SR 128
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 79.1 miles from Gary, IN, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100 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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.1 miles or 1h 31m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frankton, 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 158.1 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 100 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.1 mi from Gary, IN
· 1h 31m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$20
near mile 5.5
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.72 one way
$49.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.14
$54.28
premium
$4.89
$30.42
$60.85
diesel
$5.61
$34.91
$69.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
1 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
InCharge Energy Charging Station
Tipton, Indiana
InCharge
1 DCFC
InCharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.4
0
$16.60
$7.59
Efficient EV
39.5
0
$13.83
$6.32
EV Truck/SUV
63.2
0
$22.13
$10.12
Gas CO2
55 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Gary, IN
Evening
in Gary on Thursday
Local time
7:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Frankton, IN
Evening
in Frankton on Thursday
Local time
8:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Mulberry, IN
79 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
11 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 20m 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 Frankton, IN covers 158.1 miles and takes about 3h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, West 200 South, County Road 100 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.1 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 $24.72 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 20m drive. You will face about 23 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West 11th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Gary, IN to Frankton, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Attica along the way.
