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Trip from Indianapolis, IN to Burns Harbor, IN

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 6m

Distance

158.4 mi

255 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 55m ★
6 AM
3h 6m
8 AM
3h 30m
10 AM
3h 15m
12 PM
3h 12m
3 PM
3h 16m
5 PM
3h 28m
8 PM
3h 0m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town in Indiana, United States

Burns Harbor, IN

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Trip Overview

The drive from Indianapolis, IN to Burns Harbor, IN covers 158.4 miles and takes about 3h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 65, Borman Expressway, Crisman Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 145.5 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.76 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

79.2 miles from Indianapolis, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 3h 6m highway drive covering 158.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and Borman Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 145.5 miles on I 65.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 145.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Borman Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 158.4 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 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

5
1.1 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 65 North: Chicago

Navigation decision point

Toward I 65 North: Chicago
5
1.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 65

Merge onto I 65

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
147.2 mi into trip | ~2h 46m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 259B Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo,...
6
148.1 mi into trip | ~2h 47m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo,...
8
154.1 mi into trip | ~2h 55m in

Take the exit toward SR 249: Port of Indiana, Portage

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 19 Toward SR 249: Port of Indiana, Portage

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 Indianapolis, IN to Burns Harbor, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.

Detroit

147.2 mi in | ~2h 46m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 145.5 mi 2h 41m
Borman Expressway 5.7 mi 7m
Crisman Road 2 mi 3m
North Illinois Street 1 mi 3m
South Boundary Road 0.4 mi 1m
W Street 0.4 mi 1m
George Nelson Drive 0.3 mi <1m
R Street 0.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 145.5 mi, about 2h 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Indianapolis, IN and Burns Harbor, IN.

1

Start on this road

257 ft · 32 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto West Market Street

351 ft · 18 sec · West Market Street
3

Turn right onto North Illinois Street

1.0 mi · 3 min · North Illinois Street
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 65 North: Chicago
5

Merge onto I 65

28 mi · 33 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit onto US 52

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 52
Exit 141 Toward US 52 West
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
8

Merge onto I 65

118 mi · 2 hr 8 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 259B Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit Use the slight right lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
11

Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6

5.7 mi · 7 min · Borman Expressway
12

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 19 Toward SR 249: Port of Indiana, Portage Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn straight onto SR 249

2.0 mi · 3 min · Crisman Road
14

Continue on George Nelson Drive

0.3 mi · 49 sec · George Nelson Drive
15

Turn right onto North Loop Drive

0.2 mi · 42 sec · North Loop Drive
16

Turn left onto South Boundary Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Boundary Road
17

Continue on W Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · W Street
18

Turn left onto 10th Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · 10th Street
19

Turn right onto R Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · R Street
20

Arrive at destination

R Street

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 79.2 miles from Indianapolis, IN, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.5 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 79.2 miles or 1h 32m 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 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burns Harbor, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Indianapolis, 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 Indianapolis, IN

This is one driving day of about 158.4 miles and 3h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Indianapolis, 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 I 65 for about 145.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 79.2 mi from Indianapolis, IN · 1h 32m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Champaign, IL

79 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orland Park, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 79.2 miles from Indianapolis, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145.5 miles.

Arriving in Burns Harbor, IN

The final approach into Burns Harbor, 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 Burns Harbor, 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

$24.76 one way

$49.53 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $27.19 $54.38
premium $4.89 $30.48 $60.97
diesel $5.61 $34.97 $69.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 55.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 47.5 0 $16.63 $7.60
Efficient EV 39.6 0 $13.86 $6.34
EV Truck/SUV 63.4 0 $22.18 $10.14

Gas CO2

55 kg

EV CO2

19 kg (65% 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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Indianapolis, IN

Morning in Indianapolis on Wednesday

Local time

6:11 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 14 mph 21% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 10:34PM EDT until April 16 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 10:27PM EDT until April 13 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Destination

Burns Harbor, IN

Late night in Burns Harbor on Wednesday

Local time

5:11 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°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 earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

16 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 6m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Indianapolis, IN to Burns Harbor, IN covers 158.4 miles and takes about 3h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, Borman Expressway, Crisman Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.2 miles from Indianapolis, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.76 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 15 significant decision points across 158.4 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 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Indianapolis, IN to Burns Harbor, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Burns Harbor, IN to Indianapolis, IN

Plan the drive back the other way.

160.1 mi 2h 40m

Continue From Burns Harbor, IN

Gary, IN 13 mi · 26m

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