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Trip from Saint Joseph, IN to Burns Harbor, IN

Drive Time

5h 6m

Distance

263.1 mi

423 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

27 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 53m ★
6 AM
5h 6m
8 AM
5h 33m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 58m

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 Saint Joseph, IN, IN

Saint Joseph, IN

Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata

Downtown Burns Harbor, IN, IN

Burns Harbor, IN

Thomas Parker

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Joseph, IN to Burns Harbor, IN covers 263.1 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 65, Borman Expressway, US 31 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 243.1 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.96 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

131.5 miles from Saint Joseph, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 6m highway drive covering 263.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and Borman Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 243.1 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 24 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 243.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Borman Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.4 miles in near I 65.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 263.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 8.4 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.2 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 252 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

5
8.4 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 65

Merge onto I 65

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
104.2 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in | I 65

Keep slight right at fork onto I 65

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
8
252 mi into trip | ~4h 46m in

Take the exit toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit

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 259B Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo,...
6
252.8 mi into trip | ~4h 47m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo,...
8
258.8 mi into trip | ~4h 55m in

Take the exit toward SR 249: Port of Indiana, Portage

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 19 Toward SR 249: Port of Indiana, Portage

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 243.1 mi 4h 29m
Borman Expressway 5.7 mi 7m
US 31 2.9 mi 4m
Perry Crossing Road 2.7 mi 6m
Crisman Road 2 mi 3m
State Road 111 1.8 mi 3m
Memphis-Blue Lick Road 0.6 mi 1m
South Boundary Road 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 243.1 mi, about 4h 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, IN and Burns Harbor, IN.

1

Start on Grant Line Road

233 ft · 4 sec · Grant Line Road
2

Continue on State Road 111

1.8 mi · 3 min · State Road 111
3

Turn right onto SR 60

0.2 mi · 24 sec · State Road 60
4

Turn left onto Perry Crossing Road

2.7 mi · 6 min · Perry Crossing Road
5

Turn left onto US 31

2.9 mi · 4 min · US 31
6

Turn left onto Memphis-Blue Lick Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Memphis-Blue Lick Road
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
8

Merge onto I 65

96 mi · 1 hr 45 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 65

30 mi · 35 min · I 65
Use the slight right lane.
10

Take the exit onto US 52

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 52
Exit 141 Toward US 52 West
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
12

Merge onto I 65

118 mi · 2 hr 8 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 259B Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
15

Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6

5.7 mi · 7 min · Borman Expressway
16

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 19 Toward SR 249: Port of Indiana, Portage Use the slight right lane.
17

Turn straight onto SR 249

2.0 mi · 3 min · Crisman Road
18

Continue on George Nelson Drive

0.3 mi · 49 sec · George Nelson Drive
19

Turn right onto North Loop Drive

0.2 mi · 42 sec · North Loop Drive
20

Turn left onto South Boundary Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Boundary Road
21

Continue on W Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · W Street
22

Turn left onto 10th Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · 10th Street
23

Turn right onto R Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · R Street
24

Arrive at destination

R Street

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 131.5 miles from Saint Joseph, IN, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 243.1 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 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 131.5 miles or 2h 34m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 6m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Saint Joseph, 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 Saint Joseph, IN

This is one driving day of about 263.1 miles and 5h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Joseph, 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 243.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 131.5 mi from Saint Joseph, IN · 2h 34m into the drive

Downtown Cincinnati, OH, OH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cincinnati, OH

132 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

Cincinnati, OH

Fuel and coffee

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

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 131.5 miles from Saint Joseph, 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 243.1 miles.

Arriving in Burns Harbor, IN

The final approach into Burns Harbor, 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 Burns Harbor, 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.

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 near mile 263.1
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

$39.96 one way

$79.92 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 92 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $44.05 $88.11
premium $4.80 $49.67 $99.34
diesel $5.64 $58.45 $116.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$40

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 92.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

27 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Lafayette - Tesla Supercharger

Lafayette, IN

Tesla

24 DCFC

The Amp at 16 Tech - Tesla Supercharger

Indianapolis, IN

Tesla

16 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Indianapolis, IN

Tesla

12 DCFC

Plaza Garage - Tesla Supercharger

Indianapolis, IN

Tesla

12 DCFC

Lebanon Crossing - Tesla Supercharger

Lebanon, IN

Tesla

11 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Zionsville, IN

Tesla

10 DCFC

GetGo Cafe + Markety - Tesla Supercharger

Columbus, IN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Greenwood, IN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Tesla: 10 EV Connect: 4 Blink Network: 3 eVgo Network: 3 ChargePoint Network: 2 Non-Networked: 2 Electrify America: 2 FORD_CHARGE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 78.9 0 $27.63 $12.63
Efficient EV 65.8 0 $23.02 $10.52
EV Truck/SUV 105.2 1 $36.83 $16.84

Gas CO2

92 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 4 days ago

Origin

Saint Joseph, IN

Morning in Saint Joseph on Monday

Local time

8:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Burns Harbor, IN

Morning in Burns Harbor on Monday

Local time

7:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°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

1 hour earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

27 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

5h 6m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Saint Joseph, IN to Burns Harbor, IN covers 263.1 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, Borman Expressway, US 31. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 131.5 miles from Saint Joseph, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.96 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 263.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.4 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.2 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 252 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Saint Joseph, IN to Burns Harbor, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Burns Harbor, IN to Saint Joseph, IN

Plan the drive back the other way.

263.1 mi 5h 5m

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