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Trip from Schererville, IN to South Bend, IN

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 38m

Distance

77.7 mi

125 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 31m ★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 53m
8 PM
1h 34m

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

town in northwest Indiana, USA

Schererville, IN

Wikimedia Commons

city and county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States of America

South Bend, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Schererville, IN to South Bend, IN covers 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Indiana Toll Road, Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, West Lincoln Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.3 miles on Indiana Toll Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.15 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

38.8 miles from Schererville, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 38m drive with frequent turns across 77.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Indiana Toll Road is the longest continuous segment at about 55.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 77.7 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 7.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

5
7.1 mi into trip | ~12m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 65 North: Chicago
8
14.3 mi into trip | ~22m 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
15.2 mi into trip | ~23m 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
18.1 mi into trip | ~27m in | I 80

Take the exit onto I 80 toward I 80 East, I 90

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 16 Toward I 80 East, I 90
8
19 mi into trip | ~29m in | I 80

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll Road East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Schererville, IN and South Bend, IN, road signs point toward Chicago, Detroit and Indiana Toll Road East.

Chicago

7 mi in | ~12m

Detroit

14.3 mi in | ~22m

Indiana Toll Road East

19 mi in | ~29m | via I 80

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Indiana Toll Road 55.3 mi 1h
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway 6.7 mi 8m
West Lincoln Highway 3.4 mi 5m
Borman Expressway 2.6 mi 3m
West 81st Avenue 1.9 mi 3m
North Michigan Street 1.9 mi 4m
I 80 1.1 mi 3m
Joliet Street 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Indiana Toll Road — 55.3 mi, about 1h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Schererville, IN and South Bend, IN.

1

Start on Anna Street

32 ft · 6 sec · Anna Street
2

Turn left onto West 77th Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 77th Avenue
3

Turn left onto Austin Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Austin Avenue
4

Turn right onto US 30

2.4 mi · 3 min · West Lincoln Highway
5

Continue on US 30

0.5 mi · 49 sec · Joliet Street
6

Continue on US 30

1.1 mi · 1 min · West Lincoln Highway
7

Continue on US 30

1.9 mi · 3 min · West 81st Avenue
8

Continue on US 30

0.3 mi · 34 sec · East 81st Avenue
9

Take the ramp

401 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 65: Indianapolis, Chicago
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 65 North: Chicago
11

Merge onto I 65

6.7 mi · 8 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
12

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.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
14

Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6

2.6 mi · 3 min · Borman Expressway
15

Take the exit onto I 80

0.9 mi · 2 min · I 80
Exit 16 Toward I 80 East, I 90 Use the slight right lane.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

0.3 mi · 49 sec · I 80
Toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll Road East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Merge onto I 80; I 90

55 mi · 1 hr · Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

1.2 mi · 2 min
Toward SR 933, BUS US 31: South Bend, Notre Dame
19

Turn right onto SR 933

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Michigan Street
20

Enter roundabout onto SR 933; BUS US 31

156 ft · 8 sec · North Michigan Street
21

Continue on SR 933; BUS US 31

0.1 mi · 27 sec · North Michigan Street
22

Turn left onto East Navarre Street

131 ft · 4 sec · East Navarre Street
23

Arrive at destination

East Navarre 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 38.8 miles from Schererville, IN, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.3 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 77.7 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 38.8 miles or 52m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 22m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Schererville, 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 Schererville, IN

This is one driving day of about 77.7 miles and 1h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Schererville, 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 Indiana Toll Road for about 55.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.8 mi from Schererville, IN · 52m into the drive

Downtown chicago-il

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chicago, IL

39 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 77.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chicago, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.8 miles from Schererville, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in South Bend, IN

The final approach into South Bend, 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 South Bend, IN.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.15 one way

$24.30 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.34 $26.67
premium $4.89 $14.95 $29.91
diesel $5.61 $17.16 $34.31

Estimated Tolls: $3.87

Indiana Toll Road (55.3 mi) $3.87

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.3 0 $8.16 $3.73
Efficient EV 19.4 0 $6.80 $3.11
EV Truck/SUV 31.1 0 $10.88 $4.97

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (67% 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 1 day ago

Origin

Schererville, IN

Late night in Schererville on Wednesday

Local time

5:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Bend, IN

Morning in South Bend on Wednesday

Local time

6:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 mph 17% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:37PM EDT until April 17 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 6:31PM CDT until April 15 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

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 later

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

Temperature spread

19 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 38m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Schererville, IN to South Bend, IN covers 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Indiana Toll Road, Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, West Lincoln Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.8 miles from Schererville, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.15 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 77.7 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 7.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Schererville, IN and South Bend, IN, road signs point toward Chicago, Detroit and Indiana Toll Road East.

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