Origin
Scottsburg, IN
Morning in Scottsburg on Wednesday
Local time
6:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsburg, IN to City of Gary, IN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
5h 38m
Distance
288.1 mi
464 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 25m
★
6 AM
5h 38m
8 AM
6h 5m
10 AM
5h 47m
12 PM
5h 45m
3 PM
5h 49m
5 PM
6h 3m
8 PM
5h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsburg, IN
Wikimedia Commons
City of Gary, IN
Артем Дворецкий
Trip Overview
The drive from Scottsburg, IN to City of Gary, IN covers 288.1 miles and takes about 5h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, I 69, SR 61 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 138 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.04 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
144 miles from Scottsburg, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 5h 38m highway drive covering 288.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and I 69. The longest continuous stretch is about 138 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 19 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 138 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in near I 69.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 288.1 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 15.9 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.8 miles (I 74; I 465): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
15.9 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 69
Merge onto I 69
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
131.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 163
Toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
5
132.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
|
I 74; I 465
Merge onto I 74; I 465
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
142 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
|
65
Keep slight left at fork onto 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
146 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 20
Toward I 65 North: Chicago
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 138 mi | 2h 31m |
| I 69 | 115.5 mi | 2h 6m |
| SR 61 | 11 mi | 19m |
| I 74 | 9.2 mi | 10m |
| 65 | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| South County Road 300 East | 2.9 mi | 11m |
| SR 64 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East 5th Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 138 mi, about 2h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsburg, IN and City of Gary, IN.
1
Start on South County Road 300 East
2.9 mi
·
11 min
·
South County Road 300 East
2
Turn left onto SR 64
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
SR 64
3
Turn right onto SR 61
11 mi
·
19 min
·
SR 61
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto I 69
116 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
I 69
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
3 min
Exit 163
Toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
7
Merge onto I 74; I 465
9.2 mi
·
10 min
·
I 74; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto 65
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
65
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 20
Toward I 65 North: Chicago
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 65
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 52
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 52
Exit 141
Toward US 52 West
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
13
Merge onto I 65
120 mi
·
2 hr 11 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto US 12; US 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Avenue
15
Continue on US 12; US 20
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East 4th Avenue
16
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
17
Turn right onto West 8th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West 8th Avenue
18
Turn left
342 ft
·
25 sec
19
Arrive at destination
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 144 miles from Scottsburg, IN, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138 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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144 miles or 2h 56m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Gary, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scottsburg, 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 Scottsburg, IN
This is one driving day of about 288.1 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Scottsburg, 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 138 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 144 mi from Scottsburg, IN · 2h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 144 miles from Scottsburg, 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 138 miles.
Arriving in City of Gary, IN
The final approach into City of Gary, 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 City of Gary, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.04 one way
$90.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $49.45 | $98.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $55.44 | $110.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.61 | $127.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.4 | 1 | $30.25 | $13.83 |
| Efficient EV | 72 | 0 | $25.21 | $11.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.2 | 1 | $40.33 | $18.44 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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
City of Gary, IN
Late night in City of Gary on Wednesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph
55% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 4:41AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:37PM EDT until April 17 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
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
13 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 38m 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 Scottsburg, IN to City of Gary, IN covers 288.1 miles and takes about 5h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, I 69, SR 61. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 144 miles from Scottsburg, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.04 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 15 significant decision points across 288.1 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 15.9 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.8 miles (I 74; I 465): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Scottsburg, IN to City of Gary, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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