Origin
Gary, IN
Afternoon in Gary on Saturday
Local time
3:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gary, IN to Montpelier, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 38m
Distance
164.1 mi
264 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 26m
★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gary, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Montpelier, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gary, IN to Montpelier, IN covers 164.1 miles and takes about 3h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Morthland Drive, US 31, Indiana Toll Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.3 miles on East Morthland Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.66 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
82 miles from Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Morthland Drive | 40.3 mi | 52m |
| US 31 | 32.5 mi | 40m |
| Indiana Toll Road | 15.5 mi | 18m |
| East North 00 South | 14.4 mi | 16m |
| South Wabash Street | 11.8 mi | 17m |
| West 1000 North | 11.1 mi | 15m |
| SR 49 | 9 mi | 12m |
| North 500 West | 6.4 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
East Morthland Drive
— 40.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gary, IN and Montpelier, IN.
1
Start on 10th Place
254 ft
·
15 sec
·
10th Place
2
Turn right onto Harrison Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Harrison Boulevard
3
Continue on Harrison Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Harrison Street
4
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 5th Avenue
5
Turn left onto SR 53
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Broadway
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 90 East
7
Merge onto I 90
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 31
Toward SR 49: Chesterton, Valparaiso
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto SR 49
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
SR 49
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward US 30 East: Plymouth
11
Merge onto US 30; SR 2
40 mi
·
52 min
·
East Morthland Drive
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 31 South
13
Merge onto US 31
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 31
14
Merge onto US 31
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 31
15
Turn slight right
512 ft
·
6 sec
16
Continue on US 31
28 mi
·
34 min
·
US 31
17
Turn left onto West 1000 North
11 mi
·
15 min
·
West 1000 North
18
Continue on SR 16
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
State Road 16
19
Turn right onto SR 15
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
North 500 West
20
Continue on SR 15
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
County Road 500 West
21
Continue on SR 15
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cass Street
22
Continue on SR 15
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Cass Street
23
Turn left onto SR 15
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Canal Street
24
Turn right onto SR 13; SR 15
12 mi
·
17 min
·
South Wabash Street
25
Continue on SR 15
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
County Road 187 West
26
Continue on SR 15
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
North Wabash Road
27
Continue on SR 15
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
North Wabash Avenue
28
Turn right onto SR 9; SR 15
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Baldwin Avenue
29
Turn left onto SR 18
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
30
Continue on SR 18
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Sears Drive
31
Continue on SR 18
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East 4th Street
32
Continue on SR 18
14 mi
·
16 min
·
East North 00 South
33
Arrive at destination
SR 18
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 82 miles from Gary, IN, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.3 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 36 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82 miles or 1h 47m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montpelier, 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 164.1 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 East Morthland Drive for about 40.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 82 miles from Gary, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Harrison Boulevard
Turn right onto Harrison Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue
Turn right onto US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 East
Navigation decision point
Toward I 90 East
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge onto I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
17.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward SR 49: Chesterton, Valparaiso
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward SR 49: Chesterton, Valparaiso
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.66 one way
$51.31 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.17 | $56.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $31.58 | $63.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.23 | $72.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
Indiana Toll Road
(15.5 mi)
$1.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.2 | 0 | $17.23 | $7.88 |
| Efficient EV | 41 | 0 | $14.36 | $6.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.6 | 0 | $22.97 | $10.50 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Montpelier, IN
Afternoon in Montpelier on Saturday
Local time
4:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
12 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 38m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
$20
near mile 17
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park Closure: Mount Baldy Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
164.1 mi in 3h 38m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.3 mi on East Morthland Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Harrison Boulevard.
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 164.1 miles you will encounter 17 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: near the start (Harrison Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Montpelier, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Valparaiso along the way.
Valparaiso
17.3 mi in
|
~22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 164.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.3 miles on East Morthland Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.09 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Montpelier, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Harrison Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Montpelier, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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