Skip to main content

Trip from Ainsworth, IN to Gary, IN

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

24m

Distance

10.8 mi

17 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 22m ★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m

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

Downtown Ainsworth, IN, IN

Ainsworth, IN

cottonbro studio

city in Lake County, State of Indiana, United States

Gary, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This short 10.8-mile drive from Ainsworth to Gary, Indiana, is easily manageable in about 24 minutes, making it a perfect local excursion. With a low estimated fuel cost of just $2, it's an economical option for a quick trip within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes South Wisconsin Street, Central Avenue, and Grand Boulevard, offering a straightforward path without any highway driving. Since it's such a brief journey, it's ideal for a single day trip with no need for an overnight stay. You'll find this drive to be turn-heavy, characteristic of local roads rather than long, open stretches.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Wisconsin Street 2.8 mi 6m
Central Avenue 2.7 mi 4m
Grand Boulevard 1.3 mi 2m
East 15th Avenue 1 mi 2m
Michigan Street 0.7 mi 2m
Dekalb Street 0.6 mi 1m
West 61st Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
Madison Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: South Wisconsin Street — 2.8 mi, about 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ainsworth, IN and Gary, IN.

1

Start on SR 51

1.3 mi · 2 min · Grand Boulevard
2

Continue on SR 51

0.2 mi · 36 sec · South Lake Park Avenue
3

Turn left onto West 61st Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · West 61st Avenue
4

Enter roundabout onto South Wisconsin Street

9 ft · 0 sec · South Wisconsin Street
5

Continue on South Wisconsin Street

2.8 mi · 6 min · South Wisconsin Street
6

Turn left onto US 6 Business

0.2 mi · 35 sec · West 37th Avenue
7

Turn right onto Michigan Street

0.7 mi · 2 min · Michigan Street
8

Continue on Dekalb Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Dekalb Street
9

At end of road, turn left onto East 29th Avenue

73 ft · 3 sec · East 29th Avenue
10

Turn right onto Dekalb Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Dekalb Street
11

Turn left onto Central Avenue

2.7 mi · 4 min · Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
12

Turn slight left onto East 15th Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · East 15th Avenue
13

At end of road, turn right onto Madison Street

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Madison Street
14

Turn left onto West 11th Avenue

0.2 mi · 37 sec · West 11th Avenue
15

Turn right onto Harrison Street

480 ft · 26 sec · Harrison Street
16

Turn left onto 10th Place

55 ft · 2 sec · 10th Place
17

Arrive at destination

10th Place

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 10.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
1.6 mi into trip | ~2m in | West 61st Avenue

Turn left onto West 61st Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
2.1 mi into trip | ~4m in | South Wisconsin Street

Enter roundabout onto South Wisconsin Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
6.1 mi into trip | ~14m in | East 29th Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto East 29th Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
6.4 mi into trip | ~15m in | Central Avenue

Turn left onto Central Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
10.7 mi into trip | ~23m in | Harrison Street

Turn right onto Harrison Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.69 one way

$3.38 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $1.85 $3.71
premium $4.89 $2.08 $4.16
diesel $5.61 $2.38 $4.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$2

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.2 0 $1.13 $0.52
Efficient EV 2.7 0 $0.95 $0.43
EV Truck/SUV 4.3 0 $1.51 $0.69

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Ainsworth, IN

Late night in Ainsworth on Tuesday

Local time

3:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gary, IN

Late night in Gary on Tuesday

Local time

3:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

9 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

24m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway segments to speak of. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 2.8 miles along South Wisconsin Street. As you navigate through Ainsworth and toward Gary, the road character will shift from local streets to what feels like a more urban network. While not a high-speed journey, the frequent turns and changes in road names like South Wisconsin Street, Central Avenue, and Grand Boulevard define the driving experience. It's a drive that keeps you engaged with the immediate surroundings.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.8 mi on South Wisconsin Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near West 61st Avenue.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 24m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (West 61st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (South Wisconsin Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.1 miles (East 29th Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 10.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 2.8 miles on South Wisconsin Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (West 61st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (South Wisconsin Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.1 miles (East 29th Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gary, IN before heading back.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Ainsworth, IN or browse trips ending in Gary, IN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IN road trips.