Brookville, IN to Portage, IN is 226.3 miles and takes about 4h 39m via I 65, Metamora Road, and US 52, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region from start to finish. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single day of travel. You'll find it to be a practical choice for getting between these two points without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
113.2 miles from Brookville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
129.8 mi
2h 21m
Metamora Road
29 mi
42m
United States Highway 52
17.9 mi
26m
East Main Street
14.4 mi
21m
I 465
11.1 mi
12m
I 69
9.8 mi
11m
Central Avenue
5.7 mi
11m
I 865
5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 129.8 mi, about 2h 21m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 86 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,996 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,653
Quietest
2 AM
~323 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Brookville, IN and Portage, IN.
1
Start on US 52; SR 1
0.3 mi·34 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 52
29 mi·42 min·Metamora Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto US 52; SR 44
0.2 mi·21 sec·West 2nd Street
4
Turn slight right onto US 52
0.3 mi·30 sec·West 3rd Street
5
Continue on US 52
18 mi·26 min·United States Highway 52
6
Enter roundabout onto US 52
156 ft·2 sec·East Main Street
7
Continue on US 52
14 mi·21 min·East Main Street
8
Turn left onto US 52
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 52
Toward I 465 North, US 52 WestUse the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 69; I 465
9.8 mi·11 min·I 69; I 465
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 465
0.3 mi·19 sec·I 465
11
Continue on I-465 WB
0.8 mi·56 sec·I-465 WB
12
Continue on I 465
11 mi·12 min·I 465
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 865
5.0 mi·5 min·I 865
Exit 25Toward I 865 West: Chicago
14
Merge onto I 65; US 52
12 mi·13 min·I 65; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto US 52
0.2 mi·15 sec·US 52
Exit 141Toward US 52 West
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
17
Merge onto I 65
118 mi·2 hr 8 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 259BToward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, DetroitUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 13Toward Central AvenueUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto Central Avenue
4.3 mi·8 min·Central Avenue
21
Continue on Central Avenue
1.4 mi·3 min·Central Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4h 39m drive, leaving in the morning gives you plenty of time to reach Portage before evening. With a total distance of 226.3 miles, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Consider planning your single stop around the 129.8-mile mark on I 65, as this is your longest continuous stretch before needing to navigate surface roads. Keep your fuel budget around $31 for the trip.
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 113.2 miles from Brookville, IN, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.8 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 50 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.2 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portage, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brookville, 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 Brookville, IN
This is one driving day of about 226.3 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Brookville, 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 129.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 220.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 52 / Metamora Road
Turn left onto US 52 / Metamora Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
62.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 52
Turn left onto US 52 toward I 465 North, US 52 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 465 North, US 52 West
6
84.3 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|I 865
Keep slight left at fork onto I 865 toward I 865 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 25
Toward I 865 West: Chicago
8
219.5 mi into trip|~4h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
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 259B
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo,...
8
220.3 mi into trip|~4h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Central Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward Central Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.74 one way
$61.48 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$34.30
$68.60
premium
$4.15
$36.97
$73.95
diesel
$3.75
$33.41
$66.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.9
0
$23.76
$10.86
Efficient EV
56.6
0
$19.80
$9.05
EV Truck/SUV
90.5
1
$31.68
$14.48
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Brookville, IN
Morning
in Brookville on Sunday
Local time
8:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Portage, IN
Morning
in Portage on Sunday
Local time
7:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 0 to 5 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 6:52AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:34AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
49°F
Lawrence, IN
113 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
15 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
4h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
$20
near mile 226.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 77% of the 226.3 miles on major roads like I 65. You'll experience a longest stretch of 129.8 miles on I 65 before transitioning to surface roads like Metamora Road and US 52. Expect a consistent cruising feel for most of the trip, punctuated by the typical acceleration and deceleration around interchanges.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.8 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Metamora Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 52 / Metamora Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 226.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 52 / Metamora Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.3 miles (I 865): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 226.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.8 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
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. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 52 / Metamora Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.3 miles (I 865): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Portage, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
