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Trip from Kokomo, IN to Gary, IN

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

Drive Time

2h 45m

Distance

133.2 mi

214 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 35m ★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 7m
10 AM
2h 53m
12 PM
2h 51m
3 PM
2h 54m
5 PM
3h 6m
8 PM
2h 39m

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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Downtown Kokomo, IN, IN

Kokomo, IN

Alexey Demidov

city in Lake County, State of Indiana, United States

Gary, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Kokomo, IN to Gary, IN covers 133.2 miles and takes about 2h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 65, County Road 900 North, County Road West 100 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 86.3 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.82 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

66.6 miles from Kokomo, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 133.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 45m highway drive covering 133.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and County Road 900 North. The longest continuous stretch is about 86.3 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 23 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 86.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and County Road 900 North. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.6 miles in near SR 26 / State Road 26.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 133.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 18.6 miles (SR 26 / State Road 26): Navigation decision point; at 41.6 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

4
18.6 mi into trip | ~27m in | SR 26 / State Road 26

Turn right onto SR 26 / State Road 26

Navigation decision point

5
41.6 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | I 65

Merge onto I 65

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
127.9 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago

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 259A Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
7
130.7 mi into trip | ~2h 40m in

Take the exit toward Grant Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 9 Toward Grant Street
6
131.1 mi into trip | ~2h 41m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 86.3 mi 1h 34m
County Road 900 North 11.7 mi 17m
County Road West 100 North 8.9 mi 13m
State Road 26 6 mi 8m
East Main Street 4.5 mi 6m
Michigan Street 3.4 mi 5m
West Sycamore Street 2.7 mi 4m
West Jefferson Road 1.9 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 86.3 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Sycamore Street

2.7 mi · 4 min · West Sycamore Street
2

Continue on SR 22

0.3 mi · 22 sec · West Sycamore Road
3

Continue on SR 22

0.4 mi · 37 sec · West Sycamore Lane
4

Continue on SR 22

1.9 mi · 2 min · West Jefferson Road
5

Continue on SR 22

8.9 mi · 13 min · County Road West 100 North
6

Turn left onto SR 29

3.4 mi · 5 min · Michigan Street
7

Continue on SR 29

1.1 mi · 1 min · County Road 600 East
8

Turn right onto SR 26

6.0 mi · 8 min · State Road 26
9

Continue on SR 26

4.5 mi · 6 min · East Main Street
10

Continue on SR 26

0.2 mi · 17 sec · County Road 900 North
11

Continue on SR 26

0.4 mi · 35 sec · West Main Street
12

Continue on SR 26

12 mi · 17 min · County Road 900 North
13

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 27 sec
14

Merge onto I 65

86 mi · 1 hr 34 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

1.4 mi · 2 min
Exit 259A Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago Use the slight right lane.
16

Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6

1.4 mi · 1 min · Borman Expressway
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Exit 9 Toward Grant Street Use the slight right lane.
18

Keep slight right at fork

336 ft · 9 sec
Use the right lane.
19

Turn straight onto Richard G. Hatcher Boulevard

1.2 mi · 1 min · Richard G. Hatcher Boulevard
20

Turn right onto West 15th Avenue

0.5 mi · 56 sec · West 15th Avenue
21

Turn left onto Harrison Boulevard

0.4 mi · 1 min · Harrison Boulevard
22

Turn right onto 10th Place

254 ft · 11 sec · 10th Place
23

Arrive at destination

10th Place

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 66.6 miles from Kokomo, IN, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.3 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 29 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 66.6 miles or 1h 28m 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 15m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Kokomo, 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 Kokomo, IN

This is one driving day of about 133.2 miles and 2h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Kokomo, 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 86.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 66.6 mi from Kokomo, IN · 1h 28m into the drive

Downtown Monticello, IN, IN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Monticello, IN

67 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.

Popular next leg

Monticello, IN to Gary, IN

82.4 mi · 1h 44m

Pacing Suggestions

Mulberry, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Lafayette, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 66.6 miles from Kokomo, 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 86.3 miles.

Arriving in Gary, IN

The final approach into Gary, 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 Gary, IN.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Indiana Dunes National Park

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...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour $20 near mile 128.6
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park Closure: Mount Baldy Closure
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.82 one way

$41.65 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $22.86 $45.73
premium $4.89 $25.63 $51.27
diesel $5.61 $29.41 $58.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 46.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40 0 $13.99 $6.39
Efficient EV 33.3 0 $11.65 $5.33
EV Truck/SUV 53.3 0 $18.65 $8.52

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Kokomo, IN

Morning in Kokomo on Friday

Local time

10:43 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gary, IN

Morning in Gary on Friday

Local time

9:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

72°F

Monticello, IN

67 mi in

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

8 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

2h 45m 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 Kokomo, IN to Gary, IN covers 133.2 miles and takes about 2h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 65, County Road 900 North, County Road West 100 North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 66.6 miles from Kokomo, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.82 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.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 133.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 18.6 miles (SR 26 / State Road 26): Navigation decision point; at 41.6 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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

Yes. Nearby national parks include Indiana Dunes National Park.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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