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Trip from Lake Station, IN to Decatur, IN

Drive Time

3h 14m

Distance

144.7 mi

233 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 2m ★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 38m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 7m

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 Lake Station, IN, IN

Lake Station, IN

Arto Suraj

city in Indiana, United States

Decatur, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Lake Station, IN to Decatur, IN covers 144.7 miles and takes about 3h 14m 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, Lafayette Street, SR 130 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 103.9 miles on East Morthland Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.98 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

72.4 miles from Lake Station, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 14m drive with frequent turns across 144.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Morthland Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 103.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 6; SR 51 / Ripley Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 14m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 6; SR 51 / Ripley Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 6; SR 51 / Ripley Street

Turn left onto US 6; SR 51 / Ripley Street

Navigation decision point

4
2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in

At end of road, turn right

Navigation decision point

4
2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

7
120.1 mi into trip | ~2h 43m in | US 27 / Lima Road

Keep slight right at fork onto US 27 / Lima Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
125.4 mi into trip | ~2h 50m in | US 27 / Lafayette Street

Merge onto US 27 / Lafayette Street

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

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Morthland Drive 103.9 mi 2h 16m
Lafayette Street 18.9 mi 22m
SR 130 8 mi 12m
N Clinton Street 3 mi 4m
West Lincolnway 2.5 mi 4m
West Coliseum Boulevard 1.7 mi 2m
North Hobart Road 1.5 mi 3m
North Clinton Street 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: East Morthland Drive — 103.9 mi, about 2h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Station, IN and Decatur, IN.

1

Start on Central Avenue

287 ft · 14 sec · Central Avenue
2

Turn left onto US 6; SR 51

1.2 mi · 2 min · Ripley Street
3

Continue on US 6; SR 51

1.5 mi · 3 min · North Hobart Road
4

At end of road, turn right

19 ft · 0 sec
5

Turn left

94 ft · 2 sec
6

Turn right

218 ft · 3 sec
7

Continue on SR 130

8.0 mi · 12 min · SR 130
8

Continue on West Lincolnway

2.5 mi · 4 min · West Lincolnway
9

Turn right onto Campbell Street

341 ft · 9 sec · Campbell Street
10

Continue on Indiana Avenue

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Indiana Avenue
11

Turn right onto South Washington Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Washington Street
12

Turn left onto US 30; SR 2

104 mi · 2 hr 16 min · East Morthland Drive
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on SR 930

0.4 mi · 30 sec · SR 930
14

Turn left onto SR 930

1.7 mi · 2 min · West Coliseum Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto US 27

1.1 mi · 1 min · Lima Road
Use the right lane.
16

Continue on US 27

1.2 mi · 1 min · North Clinton Street
17

Continue on US 27

3.0 mi · 4 min · N Clinton Street
Use the straight lane.
18

Merge onto US 27

19 mi · 22 min · Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
19

Turn left onto US 224

0.5 mi · 41 sec · West Monroe Street
20

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 72.4 miles from Lake Station, IN, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.9 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 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.4 miles or 1h 41m 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 41m

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 Lake Station, 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 Lake Station, IN

This is one driving day of about 144.7 miles and 3h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lake Station, 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 103.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.4 mi from Lake Station, IN · 1h 41m into the drive

Downtown chicago-il

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chicago, IL

72 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

Chicago, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chicago, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.4 miles from Lake Station, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before East Morthland Drive if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.9 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

$21.98 one way

$43.96 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $24.23 $48.46
premium $4.80 $27.32 $54.63
diesel $5.64 $32.15 $64.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.4 0 $15.19 $6.95
Efficient EV 36.2 0 $12.66 $5.79
EV Truck/SUV 57.9 0 $20.26 $9.26

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Lake Station, IN

Afternoon in Lake Station on Monday

Local time

3:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 mph 38% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:13AM CDT until April 13 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:54AM EDT until April 16 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Destination

Decatur, IN

Afternoon in Decatur on Monday

Local time

4:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 mph 21% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:13AM CDT until April 13 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:54AM EDT until April 16 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

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

2 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 14m 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 Lake Station, IN to Decatur, IN covers 144.7 miles and takes about 3h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Morthland Drive, Lafayette Street, SR 130. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.4 miles from Lake Station, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.98 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 straightforward 3h 14m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 6; SR 51 / Ripley Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Lake Station, IN to Decatur, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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