Trip from Gary, IN to Orange County, IN

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

4h 50m

Distance

246.6 mi

397 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 37m ★

6 AM

4h 50m

8 AM

5h 17m

10 AM

4h 59m

12 PM

4h 57m

3 PM

5h 1m

5 PM

5h 16m

8 PM

4h 42m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

city in Lake County, State of Indiana, United States

Gary, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Orange County, IN

Shad Meeg

Trip Overview

The drive from Gary, IN to Orange County, IN covers 246.6 miles and takes about 4h 50m 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, I 69, SR 37 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128.7 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.55 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

123.3 miles from Gary, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 246.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

The drive from Gary, IN to Orange County, IN covers 246.6 miles and takes about 4h 50m, 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 26 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 128.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West 11th Avenue.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 246.6 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

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 133.5 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 11th Avenue

Turn left onto West 11th Avenue

Navigation decision point

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.

133.5 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | I 65

Keep slight left at fork onto I 65

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

153.9 mi into trip | ~2h 54m in

Take the exit toward I 69 South: Evansville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 5 Toward I 69 South: Evansville

202.2 mi into trip | ~3h 49m in | SR 37

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37 toward SR 37 South: Bedford

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 114 Toward SR 37 South: Bedford

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway	128.7 mi	2h 19m
I 69	47.5 mi	53m
SR 37	41.6 mi	52m
I 465	13.7 mi	15m
I 65	5.9 mi	6m
Martin Luther King Drive	2.5 mi	4m
West 15th Avenue	1 mi	1m
US 150	0.9 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway — 128.7 mi, about 2h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gary, IN and Orange County, IN.

Start on 10th Place

55 ft · 4 sec · 10th Place

Turn right onto Harrison Street

480 ft · 28 sec · Harrison Street

Turn left onto West 11th Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · West 11th Avenue

Turn right onto Madison Street

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Madison Street

Turn left onto West 15th Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · West 15th Avenue

Continue on Central Avenue

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Central Avenue

Turn right onto Martin Luther King Drive

2.5 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Drive

Turn left onto US 6 Business

0.2 mi · 34 sec · East Ridge Road

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Merge onto I 65

129 mi · 2 hr 19 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 65

5.9 mi · 6 min · I 65

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 123 Toward I 465 South

Continue on this road

0.6 mi · 1 min · this road

Exit 123 Toward I 465 South

Merge onto I 465

14 mi · 15 min · I 465

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 5 Toward I 69 South: Evansville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 69

47 mi · 53 min · I 69

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37

42 mi · 52 min · SR 37

Exit 114 Toward SR 37 South: Bedford

Enter roundabout onto US 150; SR 37; SR 56

156 ft · 2 sec · West Main Street

Continue on US 150; SR 37; SR 56

260 ft · 6 sec · West Main Street

Continue on US 150; SR 56

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 150; SR 56

Turn left onto Thompson Lane

304 ft · 13 sec · Thompson Lane

Continue on West Willowcreek Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Willowcreek Drive

Turn left onto County Road 200 West

0.2 mi · 40 sec · County Road 200 West

Continue on West County Road 25 South

0.3 mi · 1 min · West County Road 25 South

Turn left onto South County Road 225 West

0.8 mi · 2 min · South County Road 225 West

Arrive at destination

South County Road 225 West

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 123.3 miles from Gary, IN, or about 2h 18m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.7 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 54 miles or 1h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 123.3 miles or 2h 18m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange County, 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 246.6 miles and 4h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 128.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 123.3 mi from Gary, IN · 2h 18m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Indianapolis, IN

123 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

Orland Park, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Speedway, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 123.3 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 128.7 miles.

Arriving in Orange County, IN

The final approach into Orange County, 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 Orange County, IN.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.55 one way

$77.11 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 86 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$42.33	$84.66
premium	$4.89	$47.46	$94.91
diesel	$5.61	$54.45	$108.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 86.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	74	0	$25.89	$11.84
Efficient EV	61.7	0	$21.58	$9.86
EV Truck/SUV	98.6	1	$34.52	$15.78

Gas CO2

86 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Night in Gary on Thursday

Local time

9:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Orange County, IN

Night in Orange County on Thursday

Local time

10:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°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

5 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

4h 50m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Orange County, IN covers 246.6 miles and takes about 4h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, I 69, SR 37. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 123.3 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 $38.55 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.