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Trip from Portage, IN to Wanatah, IN

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

35m

Distance

23 mi

37 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

8 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 33m ★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 34m

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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city in Porter County, Indiana, United States

Portage, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Wanatah, IN, IN

Wanatah, IN

Ever Rayan

Trip Overview

The drive from Portage, IN to Wanatah, IN covers 23 miles and takes about 35m 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, SR 49, US 6 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.9 miles on East Morthland Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.60 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

11.5 miles from Portage, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from Portage, IN to Wanatah, IN covers 23 miles and takes about 35m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 10 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 6.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Central Avenue.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 23 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (Airport Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

3
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Central Avenue

Depart onto Central Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | Airport Road

Turn right onto Airport Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
3
8.3 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the ramp toward SR 49 South: Valparaiso

Navigation decision point

Toward SR 49 South: Valparaiso
4
15.5 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward US 30 East: Plymouth

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 30 East: Plymouth
4
22.9 mi into trip | ~35m in | West Cross Street

Turn left onto West Cross Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Morthland Drive 6.9 mi 9m
SR 49 6.8 mi 9m
US 6 5.9 mi 9m
Airport Road 1.7 mi 3m
Central Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
North Illinois Street 0.2 mi <1m
West Cross Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: East Morthland Drive — 6.9 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Portage, IN and Wanatah, IN.

1

Start on Central Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2

Turn right onto Airport Road

1.7 mi · 3 min · Airport Road
Use the right lane.
3

Turn left onto US 6

5.9 mi · 9 min · US 6
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward SR 49 South: Valparaiso
5

Merge onto SR 49

6.8 mi · 9 min · SR 49
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward US 30 East: Plymouth
7

Merge onto US 30; SR 2

6.9 mi · 9 min · East Morthland Drive
8

Turn right onto North Illinois Street

0.2 mi · 56 sec · North Illinois Street
9

Turn left onto West Cross Street

124 ft · 5 sec · West Cross Street
10

Arrive at destination

West Cross Street

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 11.5 miles from Portage, IN, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.9 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 23 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 11.5 miles or 19m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 30m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Portage, 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 Portage, IN

This is one driving day of about 23 miles and 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Portage, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on East Morthland Drive for about 6.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 11.5 mi from Portage, IN · 19m into the drive

Downtown chicago-il

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chicago, IL

12 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chicago, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 11.5 miles from Portage, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Wanatah, IN

The final approach into Wanatah, 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 Wanatah, 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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour $20 near mile 0.8
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

$3.60 one way

$7.19 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $3.95 $7.90
premium $4.89 $4.43 $8.85
diesel $5.61 $5.08 $10.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

8 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Indian Boundary Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Chesterton, IN

Tesla

12 DCFC

George Ade Travel Plaza Eastbound - Tesla Supercharger

Portage, IN

Tesla

8 DCFC

John T. McCutcheon Travel Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Portage, IN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Currie Valparaiso - DCFC

Valparaiso, IN

Blink Network

4 DCFC

Graff Ford of Chesterton

Burns Harbor, IN

RED_E

2 DCFC

Victory Nissan of Chesterton

Chesterton, IN

RED_E

2 DCFC

Graff Chevrolet of Chesterton

Burns Harbor, IN

RED_E

2 DCFC

TEAM CHEVROLET, INC

VALPARAISO, IN

EV Connect

1 DCFC

Tesla: 3 RED_E: 3 Blink Network: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.9 0 $2.41 $1.10
Efficient EV 5.8 0 $2.01 $0.92
EV Truck/SUV 9.2 0 $3.22 $1.47

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 5 days ago

Origin

Portage, IN

Night in Portage on Tuesday

Local time

9:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wanatah, IN

Night in Wanatah on Tuesday

Local time

9:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

8 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

35m 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 Wanatah, IN covers 23 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Morthland Drive, SR 49, US 6. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.5 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 $3.60 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 23 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (Airport Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Portage, IN to Wanatah, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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