Origin
Saint Marys, IN
Afternoon in Saint Marys on Saturday
Local time
4:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Marys, IN to Hammond, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 21m
Distance
274.6 mi
442 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 8m
★
6 AM
5h 21m
8 AM
5h 48m
10 AM
5h 31m
12 PM
5h 28m
3 PM
5h 32m
5 PM
5h 47m
8 PM
5h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Marys, IN
Vladimir Srajber
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Marys, IN to Hammond, IN covers 274.6 miles and takes about 5h 21m 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, I 265 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 252.3 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.93 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
137.3 miles from Saint Marys, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 252.3 mi | 4h 39m |
| Borman Expressway | 8 mi | 10m |
| I 265 | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| Paoli Pike | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Saint Marys Road | 1.2 mi | 4m |
| 173rd Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Hilltop Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Indianapolis Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 252.3 mi, about 4h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Marys, IN and Hammond, IN.
1
Start on Saint Marys Road
1.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Saint Marys Road
2
Keep slight left at fork onto Jones Lane
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Jones Lane
3
Turn left onto Spickert Knob Road
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Spickert Knob Road
4
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
2 min
5
Turn right onto North Hill Drive
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Hill Drive
6
Turn slight right onto Hilltop Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Hilltop Road
7
At end of road, turn left onto Paoli Pike
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Paoli Pike
8
Continue on State Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
State Street
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
10
Merge onto I 265; SR 62
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 265; SR 62
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7
Toward I 65 North, I 65 South: Indianapolis, Louisville
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 North: Indianapolis
13
Merge onto I 65
106 mi
·
1 hr 56 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 65
30 mi
·
35 min
·
I 65
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit onto US 52
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 52
Exit 141
Toward US 52 West
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
17
Merge onto I 65
117 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 259A
Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Borman Expressway
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 2
Toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
Use the slight left lane.
22
Turn straight onto SR 152
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Indianapolis Boulevard
23
Turn left onto 173rd Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
173rd Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Columbia Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Columbia Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Columbia Avenue
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 137.3 miles from Saint Marys, IN, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 252.3 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 60 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.3 miles or 2h 45m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hammond, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Marys, 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 Marys, IN
This is one driving day of about 274.6 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Saint Marys, 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 252.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 137.3 miles from Saint Marys, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 252.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 9.6 and 273 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North, I 65 South: Indianapolis, Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward I 65 North, I 65 South: Indianapolis, Lo...
6
116.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m 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
263.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
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 259A
Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
8
272.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 17m in
Take the exit toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis Boulevard
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 2
Toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis...
8
273 mi into trip
|
~5h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.93 one way
$85.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $47.14 | $94.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $52.84 | $105.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.63 | $121.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.4 | 1 | $28.83 | $13.18 |
| Efficient EV | 68.7 | 0 | $24.03 | $10.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.8 | 1 | $38.44 | $17.57 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Hammond, IN
Afternoon in Hammond on Saturday
Local time
3:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
15 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
5h 21m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
274.6 mi in 5h 21m, mostly highway — 252.3 mi of that is on I 65.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 252.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 9.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 274.6 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 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.4 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 263.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 274.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 252.3 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hammond, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.4 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 263.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hammond, IN before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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