Origin
Wanatah, IN
Evening in Wanatah on Tuesday
Local time
7:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wanatah, IN to City of Gary, IN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
46m
Distance
33.7 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wanatah, IN
Ever Rayan
City of Gary, IN
Артем Дворецкий
Trip Overview
The drive from Wanatah, IN to City of Gary, IN covers 33.7 miles and takes about 46m 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, Lincoln Highway, Madison Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.6 miles on Indiana Toll Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.27 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
16.9 miles from Wanatah, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 46m drive with frequent turns across 33.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 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 15.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 33.7 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
6.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Ches...
6
16.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Turn left toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
9
16.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago
5
16.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 80; I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge onto I 80; I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
32.2 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward SR 53: Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14B
Toward SR 53: Broadway
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Wanatah, IN to City of Gary, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Chesterton along the way.
Chesterton
6.9 mi in
|
~9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 15.6 mi | 17m |
| Lincoln Highway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Madison Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West 4th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Illinois Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 8th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Broadway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Cross Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Indiana Toll Road
— 15.6 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wanatah, IN and City of Gary, IN.
1
Start on West Cross Street
124 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Cross Street
2
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Illinois Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 30
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Lincoln Highway
4
Take the exit
9.2 mi
·
13 min
Toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton
5
Turn left
394 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
6
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
7
Continue on this road
411 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago
Use the straight lane.
9
Merge onto I 80; I 90
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 14B
Toward SR 53: Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto SR 53
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Broadway
12
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
13
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
14
Turn right onto West 8th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West 8th Avenue
15
Turn left
342 ft
·
25 sec
16
Arrive at destination
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 16.9 miles from Wanatah, IN, or about 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.6 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 33.7 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.9 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 37m
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 Wanatah, 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 Wanatah, IN
This is one driving day of about 33.7 miles and 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wanatah, 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 15.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.9 mi from Wanatah, IN · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Wanatah, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.27 one way
$10.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.78 | $11.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.49 | $12.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.44 | $14.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
Indiana Toll Road
(15.6 mi)
$1.09
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
$5
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
City of Gary, IN
Evening in City of Gary on Tuesday
Local time
7:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
46m 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 Wanatah, IN to City of Gary, IN covers 33.7 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Indiana Toll Road, Lincoln Highway, Madison Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.9 miles from Wanatah, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.27 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 33.7 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Wanatah, IN to City of Gary, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Chesterton along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From City of Gary, IN
More from Wanatah, IN
More trips to City of Gary, IN
Explore more options from Wanatah, IN or browse trips ending in City of Gary, IN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IN road trips.
Explore maps for Wanatah, IN or City of Gary, IN on MapSof.net.