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Trip from Portage, IN to Mishawaka, IN

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

1h 9m

Distance

63.6 mi

102 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 7m

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

city in Porter County, Indiana, United States

Portage, IN

Wikimedia Commons

city in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States

Mishawaka, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Portage, IN to Mishawaka, IN covers 63.6 miles and takes about 1h 9m 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 $9.94 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 63.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 9m 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 1h 9m drive with frequent turns across 63.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 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 Mishawaka, IN is easy. At 1h 9m 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 Mishawaka, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Willowcreek Road
I 80
Indiana Toll Road
SR 331
Capital Avenue
Lincoln Way East

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 Mishawaka, 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 · 11 sec · I 80, I 90
4

Keep slight left

0.9 mi · 1 min
5

Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

59 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Indiana Toll Road
6

Take the exit slight right toward SR 331: Mishawaka

0.7 mi · 1 min · SR 331: Mishawaka
7

Continue straight

387 ft · 9 sec
8

Keep slight left

148 ft · 6 sec
9

Turn left onto Capital Avenue

5.0 mi · 7 min · Capital Avenue
10

Turn right onto Lincoln Way East

1.1 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Way East
11

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.8 mi from Portage, IN · 34m into the drive

Downtown Lake Park, IN, IN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake Park, IN

32 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

Chesterton, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake Park, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.8 miles from Portage, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Mishawaka, IN

The final approach into Mishawaka, IN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.94 one way

$19.89 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.92 $21.83
premium $4.89 $12.24 $24.48
diesel $5.61 $14.04 $28.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.1 0 $6.68 $3.05
Efficient EV 15.9 0 $5.56 $2.54
EV Truck/SUV 25.4 0 $8.90 $4.07

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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

Portage, IN

Late night in Portage on Friday

Local time

1:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mishawaka, IN

Late night in Mishawaka on Friday

Local time

2:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

65°F

Lake Park, IN

32 mi in

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

1 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

1h 9m 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 Mishawaka, IN covers 63.6 miles and takes about 1h 9m 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 31.8 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 $9.94 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 Mishawaka, IN is easy. At 1h 9m 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 Mishawaka, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Portage, IN to Mishawaka, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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