Origin
Arcadia, IN
Morning in Arcadia on Friday
Local time
7:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arcadia, IN to Gary, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 4m
Distance
147.9 mi
238 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 53m
★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 13m
5 PM
3h 26m
8 PM
2h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arcadia, IN
Anastasia Shuraeva
Gary, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Arcadia, IN to Gary, IN is 147.9 miles and takes about 3h 4m via I 65, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily within Indiana, offering a straightforward drive. With most of your travel on highways, this route is designed for efficient transit between these two points. It's a practical choice if you need to cover ground without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74 miles from Arcadia, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 100.6 mi | 1h 49m |
| West 200 South | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| County Road 100 South | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| Walnut Avenue | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| East Wabash Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| South 150 West | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Cicero Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| East County Road 50 South | 2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 100.6 mi, about 1h 49m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 76 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,629 veh/hr typical · worst 2,359
Quietest
2 AM
~282 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arcadia, IN and Gary, IN.
1
Start on Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto SR 19
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Cicero Avenue
3
Continue on SR 19
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Cicero Road
4
Continue on SR 19
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Cicero Avenue
5
Continue on SR 19
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South 150 West
6
Continue on SR 19
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
7
Turn left onto West Jefferson Street
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on West Old State Road 28
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Old State Road 28
9
Continue on West 200 South
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
West 200 South
10
Enter roundabout onto West 200 South
93 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 200 South
11
Continue on West 200 South
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
West 200 South
12
Enter roundabout onto SR 28
136 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 200 South
13
Continue on SR 28
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
West 200 South
14
Enter roundabout onto SR 28
160 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 200 South
15
Continue on SR 28
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
West 200 South
16
Continue on SR 28
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
County Road 100 South
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 421; SR 28
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 421; SR 28
18
Turn left onto US 421; SR 28
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East County Road 50 South
19
Continue on US 421; SR 28
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
East Wabash Street
20
Turn slight right
215 ft
·
4 sec
21
Turn slight right onto US 421; SR 28
179 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Hoke Avenue
22
Turn left onto US 421; SR 28
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Walnut Street
23
Turn straight onto SR 28
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Walnut Avenue
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
25
Merge onto I 65
101 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 259A
Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
27
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Borman Expressway
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 9
Toward Grant Street
Use the slight right lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork
336 ft
·
9 sec
Use the right lane.
30
Turn straight onto Richard G. Hatcher Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Richard G. Hatcher Boulevard
31
Turn right onto West 15th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
West 15th Avenue
32
Turn left onto Harrison Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Harrison Boulevard
33
Turn right onto 10th Place
254 ft
·
11 sec
·
10th Place
34
Arrive at destination
10th Place
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under 4 hours, you can easily complete it in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to allow for any unexpected delays or a brief stop. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 100 miles on I 65, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. There's only one recommended stop, suggesting this is a fairly direct trip, but you'll want to be mindful of fuel levels, especially given the $23 estimated cost.
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 74 miles from Arcadia, IN, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.6 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 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gary, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arcadia, 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 Arcadia, IN
This is one driving day of about 147.9 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Arcadia, 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 100.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74 miles from Arcadia, 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 100.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 145.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
West Jefferson Street
Turn left onto West Jefferson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
13.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
SR 28 / West 200 South
Enter roundabout onto SR 28 / West 200 South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
142.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
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 259A
Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
7
145.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward Grant Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9
Toward Grant Street
6
145.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.93 one way
$45.86 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $25.14 | $50.29 |
| premium | $4.93 | $28.69 | $57.39 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $32.60 | $65.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.53 | $7.10 |
| Efficient EV | 37 | 0 | $12.94 | $5.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.71 | $9.47 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Gary, IN
Morning in Gary on Friday
Local time
6:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
88°F
Battle Ground, IN
74 mi in
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
19 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
3h 4m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 69% of the 147.9 miles on high-speed roads like I 65. You'll experience a long stretch of 100.6 miles on I 65 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect the highway portion to feature frequent exits and merges as you travel north. The latter part of the route involves navigating county roads.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.6 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and West 200 South. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in near West Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 147.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 8.3 miles (West Jefferson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles (SR 28 / West 200 South): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 142.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Arcadia, IN
Full guide →Arriving in Gary, IN
Full guide →Founded 1906
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana. It is perhaps best known as the birthplace of the legendary pop star Michael Jackson. Founded in 1906 as a company town for U.S. Steel, it thrived in the 1950s and early 60s and earned the nickname "The Magic City". In 2007, it was described by writer Jessica Hopper as "the Pompeii of the Midwest, a city of ruins where life can seem to have just suddenly stopped".
Top landmarks
- • Van Buren Terrace Historic District — historic district in Indiana, United States
- • Gary City Center Historic District — historic district in Gary, Indiana
- • Union Station — former railroad station in Gary, Indiana, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 147.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.6 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Gary, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles (West Jefferson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles (SR 28 / West 200 South): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 142.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Gary, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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