Drive or Fly: Portage, IN to Smithfield, IN?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for GYY–FWA. At 208 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 4m

Distance

208.2 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

84 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

17m in the air

Air Distance

139 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Portage, IN → GYY 19m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FWA → Smithfield, IN 84m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Portage, IN GYY — Gary/Chicago International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

Smithfield, IN FWA — Fort Wayne International Airport 56 mi, ~84m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GYY and FWA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 39m

5h 37m on rail

Total Cost

$36

CO2

10 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Portage, IN → Dyer Amtrak 27m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 337m

Arrival 10m

Connersville Amtrak → Smithfield, IN 55m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $36) $36

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Dyer Amtrak 18 mi, ~27m drive

To Connersville Amtrak 37 mi, ~55m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 55m

2h 55m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus N2642

Door-to-Door Timeline

Portage, IN → Gary Bus Station (GRY6) 13m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 175m

Arrival 10m

Indianapolis (E Washington St) (5IN) → Smithfield, IN 82m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From GRY6 — Gary Bus Station 9 mi, ~13m drive

To 5IN — Indianapolis (E Washington St) 55 mi, ~82m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~11/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 11 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 4m	4h	7h 39m	4h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$181	$36	$16
Carbon footprint	84 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

208.2 mi 4h 4m

via I 65, I 69, I 465

Shortest (+2 min)

179.1 mi 4h 7m

via US 30; SR 2, US 31, I 69

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Portage, IN to Smithfield, IN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.