Origin
Bass Lake, IN
Morning in Bass Lake on Tuesday
Local time
10:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bass Lake, IN to Portage, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
54.3 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bass Lake, IN
Ashish Kumar
Portage, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Bass Lake to Portage, you can expect a manageable 54.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Midwest locations. Because the route relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, it offers a straightforward connection across Indiana. It is a practical choice if you are looking for a direct transit without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | 15.5 mi | 20m |
| S 200 W | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| Indiana Toll Road | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| State Road 39 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| East 600 S | 4 mi | 5m |
| West 600 South | 2 mi | 2m |
| S 400 E | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Willowcreek Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 15.5 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bass Lake, IN and Portage, IN.
1
Start on this road
55 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn slight left onto Lakeside Avenue
165 ft
·
4 sec
·
Lakeside Avenue
3
Turn straight onto SR 10
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
South 500 E
4
Turn right onto US 35; SR 10
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
S 400 E
5
Turn left onto SR 10
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East 600 S
6
Continue on SR 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West 600 South
7
Turn right onto SR 39
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
S 200 W
8
Continue on SR 39
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Road 39
9
Turn left onto US 30
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Lincoln Highway
10
Take the exit
9.2 mi
·
13 min
Toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton
11
Turn left
394 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
12
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
13
Continue on this road
411 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago
Use the straight lane.
15
Merge onto I 80; I 90
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 23
Toward Portage
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
155 ft
·
10 sec
18
Turn left onto Willowcreek Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Willowcreek Road
19
Turn left onto Central Avenue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Central Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Bass Lake, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 36.4 and 53.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
36.4 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
45.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
45.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
7
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward Portage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23
Toward Portage
4
53.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.49 one way
$16.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.32 | $18.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.45 | $20.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.46
Indiana Toll Road
(6.5 mi)
$0.46
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Portage, IN
Morning in Portage on Tuesday
Local time
10:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Valparaiso, IN
27 mi in
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
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 14m 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 rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will navigate via the Lincoln Highway, S 200 W, and the Indiana Toll Road, which keeps the experience focused on regional roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 15.5-mile segment on the Lincoln Highway. Because the path is composed entirely of local roads, you should remain alert for frequent turns and changing road conditions. This setup creates a hands-on driving experience that shifts away from the typical interstate grind.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.5 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 36.4 miles in.
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 54.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 36.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
845 ft
632 ft
Total Climb
181 ft
Total Descent
261 ft
Highest Point
845 ft
~42.6 mi in
Elevation Range
212 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Bass Lake, IN to Portage, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Chesterton along the way.
Chesterton
36.4 mi in
|
~49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 54.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.5 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.46 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Portage, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 36.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Portage, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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