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...
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Drive Time
4h 40m
Distance
240.7 mi
387 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
23 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Guilford, IN
Dmytro Koplyk
Portage, IN
Wikimedia Commons
This 240.7-mile journey from Guilford, Indiana, to Portage, Indiana, is a straightforward drive designed for a single day. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 40 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing I-65 and I-74, with a brief segment on SR 1. Given its highway-focused profile, this route is efficient for getting you to your destination without much fuss. The estimated fuel cost is around $38, making it an economical option for a day trip. You'll be staying within the Midwest region for the entire drive, keeping the scenery consistent.
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
120.3 miles from Guilford, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
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This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of it on major roadways. You'll experience long stretches of efficient travel, including a significant 147.1-mile segment on I-65. The primary roads, I-65 and I-74, offer a consistent driving experience for most of the journey. While SR 1 provides a slight variation, the overall character is one of steady progress on well-maintained highways. It's the kind of drive where you can settle in and cover ground effectively.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 240.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 86.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Indianapolis
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Central Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 147.1 mi | 2h 43m |
| I 74 | 69.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| SR 1 | 9.1 mi | 15m |
| Central Avenue | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| Southeastern Avenue | 5 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 52 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dickson Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Guilford, IN and Portage, IN.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto SR 1
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 74
Continue on this road
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Southeastern Avenue
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
Continue on Cruse Street
Turn right onto East Market Street
Turn left onto Dickson Street
Turn left onto East Ohio Street
Turn right onto Dickson Street
Turn left onto East New York Street
Turn right onto North Pine Street
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit onto US 52
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto Central Avenue
Continue on Central Avenue
Arrive at destination
With a total duration of under 5 hours, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider an early start to maximize your daylight hours. You'll encounter only one suggested stop, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch on I-65, as services can be spaced out. The $38 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting your trip.
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.
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 120.3 miles or 2h 23m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portage, IN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Guilford, 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 Guilford, IN
This is one driving day of about 240.7 miles and 4h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.3 mi from Guilford, IN · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
120 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 120.3 miles from Guilford, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 147.1 miles.
The final approach into Portage, 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 Portage, 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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$37.63 one way
$75.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $41.32 | $82.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $46.32 | $92.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.14 | $106.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
23 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Lafayette - Tesla Supercharger
Lafayette, IN
24 DCFC
The Amp at 16 Tech - Tesla Supercharger
Indianapolis, IN
16 DCFC
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Indianapolis, IN
12 DCFC
Plaza Garage - Tesla Supercharger
Indianapolis, IN
12 DCFC
Lebanon Crossing - Tesla Supercharger
Lebanon, IN
11 DCFC
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Zionsville, IN
10 DCFC
Culver's - Tesla Supercharger
Shelbyville, IN
8 DCFC
La Quinta South Indianapolis - Tesla Supercharger
Indianapolis, IN
8 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.2 | 0 | $25.27 | $11.55 |
| Efficient EV | 60.2 | 0 | $21.06 | $9.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.3 | 1 | $33.70 | $15.40 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Guilford on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Portage on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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