Origin
Portage, IN
Afternoon in Portage on Thursday
Local time
12:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portage, IN to Gary, IN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
19m
Distance
11.9 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portage, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Gary, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Portage, IN to Gary, IN covers 11.9 miles and takes about 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Willowcreek Road, I 80, Indiana Toll Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.86 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 11.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 19m drive with frequent turns across 11.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Willowcreek Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Portage, IN to Gary, IN is easy. At 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Portage, IN to Gary, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Willowcreek Road | — | — |
| I 80 | — | — |
| Indiana Toll Road | — | — |
| SR 53 | — | — |
| Broadway | — | — |
| West 4th Avenue | — | — |
| Madison Street | — | — |
| 10th Place | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Willowcreek Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portage, IN and Gary, IN.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto Willowcreek Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Willowcreek Road
3
Take the ramp slight right toward I 80, I 90
433 ft
·
12 sec
·
I 80, I 90
4
Keep slight right
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
5
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road
8.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
7
Take the exit slight right toward SR 53: Broadway
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
SR 53: Broadway
8
Turn left onto Broadway
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Broadway
9
Turn right onto West 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
10
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Street
11
Turn right onto 10th Place
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
10th Place
12
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.86 one way
$3.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.04 | $4.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.29 | $4.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.63 | $5.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Gary, IN
Afternoon in Gary on Thursday
Local time
12:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
14 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
19m 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 Portage, IN to Gary, IN covers 11.9 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Willowcreek Road, I 80, Indiana Toll Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.9 miles from Portage, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.86 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.
The drive from Portage, IN to Gary, IN is easy. At 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Portage, IN to Gary, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Portage, IN to Gary, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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