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Trip from Gary, IN to Hartford City, IN

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 40m

Distance

169.6 mi

273 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 28m ★
6 AM
3h 41m
8 AM
4h 6m
10 AM
3h 50m
12 PM
3h 47m
3 PM
3h 51m
5 PM
4h 5m
8 PM
3h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Lake County, State of Indiana, United States

Gary, IN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Indiana, United States

Hartford City, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Gary, IN to Hartford City, IN covers 169.6 miles and takes about 3h 40m 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, SR 26, East 700 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 85.7 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.52 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

84.8 miles from Gary, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Gary, IN to Hartford City, IN covers 169.6 miles and takes about 3h 40m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 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 Hartford City, IN is easy. At 3h 40m with 41% 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 11 key points

These 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 Hartford City, 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 70.3 mi 1h 44m
East 700 South 6 mi 8m
Martin Luther King Drive 2.5 mi 4m
County Road 950 East 2 mi 3m
West 15th Avenue 1 mi 1m
West Washington Street 0.5 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 Hartford City, 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

70 mi · 1 hr 44 min · SR 26
13

Turn left onto SR 26

2.0 mi · 3 min · County Road 950 East
14

Turn right onto SR 26

6.0 mi · 8 min · East 700 South
15

Turn slight left onto SR 26

0.5 mi · 46 sec · West Washington Street
16

Arrive at destination

SR 26

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 84.8 miles from Gary, IN, or about 1h 37m 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 84.8 miles or 1h 37m 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 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartford City, 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 169.6 miles and 3h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 84.8 mi from Gary, IN · 1h 37m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Champaign, IL

85 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

Champaign, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 84.8 miles from Gary, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85.7 miles.

Arriving in Hartford City, IN

The final approach into Hartford City, 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 Hartford City, 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

$26.52 one way

$53.03 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $29.11 $58.22
premium $4.89 $32.64 $65.28
diesel $5.61 $37.45 $74.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 50.9 0 $17.81 $8.14
Efficient EV 42.4 0 $14.84 $6.78
EV Truck/SUV 67.8 0 $23.74 $10.85

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Gary, IN

Late night in Gary on Wednesday

Local time

5:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hartford City, IN

Morning in Hartford City on Wednesday

Local time

6:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°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 later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

7 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 40m 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 Hartford City, IN covers 169.6 miles and takes about 3h 40m 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, East 700 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.8 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 $26.52 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 Hartford City, IN is easy. At 3h 40m with 41% 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 Hartford City, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Lafayette along the way.

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