Origin
Highland, IN
Morning in Highland on Monday
Local time
6:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland, IN to Decatur, IN
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
159.5 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, IN
Google DeepMind
Trip Overview
The drive from Highland, IN to Decatur, IN covers 159.5 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Morthland Drive, Lafayette Street, US Route 30 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.6 miles on West Morthland Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.23 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
79.8 miles from Highland, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 33m drive with frequent turns across 159.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Morthland Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 105.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 159.5 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: at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 80, I 94, US 6: Chicago, Detroit
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 10
Toward I 80, I 94, US 6: Chicago, Detroit
9
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Detroit
7
8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
8
14.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward US 30: Merrillville, Valparaiso, Schererville
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 253
Toward US 30: Merrillville, Valparaiso, Scherer...
8
15.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Valparaiso, Valparaiso University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Valparaiso, Valparaiso University
Towns Along This Route
Between Highland, IN and Decatur, IN, road signs point toward Valparaiso, Schererville and Valparaiso University.
Valparaiso
14.7 mi in
|
~22m
Schererville
14.7 mi in
|
~22m
Valparaiso University
15.2 mi in
|
~23m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Morthland Drive | 105.6 mi | 2h 19m |
| Lafayette Street | 18.9 mi | 22m |
| US Route 30 | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| East 81st Avenue | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Borman Expressway | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| N Clinton Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| West Coliseum Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
West Morthland Drive
— 105.6 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland, IN and Decatur, IN.
1
Start on Parrish Avenue
25 ft
·
4 sec
·
Parrish Avenue
2
Turn right onto Ridge Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Ridge Road
3
Turn left onto SR 912
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Cline Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 10
Toward I 80, I 94, US 6: Chicago, Detroit
Use the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 10B
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Detroit
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Borman Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 11
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 65
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 253
Toward US 30: Merrillville, Valparaiso, Schererville
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
246 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Valparaiso, Valparaiso University
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto US 30
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
East 81st Avenue
13
Continue on US 30
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
US Route 30
14
Continue on US 30
106 mi
·
2 hr 19 min
·
West Morthland Drive
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on SR 930
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
SR 930
16
Turn left onto SR 930
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Coliseum Boulevard
Use the left lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lima Road
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on US 27
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Clinton Street
19
Continue on US 27
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
N Clinton Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Merge onto US 27
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn left onto US 224
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
West Monroe Street
22
Arrive at destination
US 224
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 79.8 miles from Highland, IN, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.6 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 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 50m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Highland, 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 Highland, IN
This is one driving day of about 159.5 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Highland, 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 West Morthland Drive for about 105.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.8 mi from Highland, IN · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.8 miles from Highland, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before West Morthland Drive if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.6 miles.
Arriving in Decatur, IN
The final approach into Decatur, 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 Decatur, 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
$24.23 one way
$48.45 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.71 | $53.41 |
| premium | $4.80 | $30.11 | $60.22 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.44 | $70.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.75 | $7.66 |
| Efficient EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.96 | $6.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.33 | $10.21 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Decatur, IN
Morning in Decatur on Monday
Local time
7:27 AM
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
5 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
3h 33m 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 Highland, IN to Decatur, IN covers 159.5 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Morthland Drive, Lafayette Street, US Route 30. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.8 miles from Highland, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.23 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 159.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Highland, IN and Decatur, IN, road signs point toward Valparaiso, Schererville and Valparaiso University.
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