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Trip from Gary, IN to Meridian Hills, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 48m

Distance

146.7 mi

236 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 37m ★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 10m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 53m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 42m

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

Downtown Meridian Hills, IN, IN

Meridian Hills, IN

Castorly Stock

Trip Overview

The drive from Gary, IN to Meridian Hills, IN covers 146.7 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Harrison Street, West 11th Avenue, Madison Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.93 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

73.4 miles from Gary, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 146.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 48m drive with frequent turns across 146.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Harrison Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Gary, IN to Meridian Hills, IN is easy. At 2h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gary, IN to Meridian Hills, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Harrison Street
West 11th Avenue
Madison Street
West 15th Avenue
Central Avenue
Martin Luther King Drive
East Ridge Road
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Harrison Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gary, IN and Meridian Hills, IN.

1

Start on 10th Place

56 ft · 4 sec · 10th Place
2

Turn right onto Harrison Street

479 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 · 48 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 · 22 sec · Central Avenue
7

Turn right onto Martin Luther King Drive

2.5 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Drive
8

Turn left onto East Ridge Road

0.2 mi · 35 sec · East Ridge Road
9

Take the ramp slight right

0.3 mi · 36 sec
10

Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

129 mi · 2 hr 19 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
11

Keep slight right

5.1 mi · 6 min
12

Merge slight right

5.0 mi · 5 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward US 31 North: Meridian Street South, Westfield, Kokomo

0.1 mi · 23 sec · US 31 North: Meridian Street South, Westfield, Kokomo
14

Keep slight left to continue on Meridian Street South

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Meridian Street South
15

Turn right onto North Meridian Street

2.7 mi · 4 min · North Meridian Street
16

Turn left onto East 75th Street

167 ft · 5 sec · East 75th Street
17

Arrive at your destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.4 miles from Gary, IN, or about 1h 24m into the drive.

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 32 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 73.4 miles or 1h 24m 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 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian Hills, 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 146.7 miles and 2h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 73.4 mi from Gary, IN · 1h 24m into the drive

city in Indiana, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Lafayette, IN

73 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

Chicago, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Lafayette, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.4 miles from Gary, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Meridian Hills, IN

The final approach into Meridian Hills, 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 Meridian Hills, 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

$22.93 one way

$45.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.18 $50.36
premium $4.89 $28.23 $56.46
diesel $5.61 $32.39 $64.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44 0 $15.40 $7.04
Efficient EV 36.7 0 $12.84 $5.87
EV Truck/SUV 58.7 0 $20.54 $9.39

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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

Morning in Gary on Friday

Local time

7:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Meridian Hills, IN

Morning in Meridian Hills on Friday

Local time

8:08 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°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

11 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 48m 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 Meridian Hills, IN covers 146.7 miles and takes about 2h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Harrison Street, West 11th Avenue, Madison Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 73.4 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 $22.93 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.

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 Meridian Hills, IN is easy. At 2h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gary, IN to Meridian Hills, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Gary, IN to Meridian Hills, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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