Origin
Burns Harbor, IN
Late night in Burns Harbor on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burns Harbor, IN to Gary, 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
26m
Distance
13 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burns Harbor, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Gary, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 14.4-mile drive from Burns Harbor to Gary, Indiana, is easily manageable in about 25 minutes, making it perfect for a quick day trip. You'll navigate primarily using local roads like 10th Street and W Street, with no highway driving involved. Given its brevity, you won't need an overnight stay, and the estimated fuel cost is a modest $2. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward local connection. It's a simple point-to-point journey ideal for those seeking efficiency.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dunes Highway | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| East 5th Avenue | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Melton Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East 4th Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Madison Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| South Boundary Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| W Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| George Nelson Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dunes Highway
— 5.8 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burns Harbor, IN and Gary, IN.
1
Start on R Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
R Street
2
Turn left onto 10th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto W Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
W Street
4
Continue on South Boundary Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Boundary Road
5
Turn right onto North Loop Drive
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Loop Drive
6
Turn left onto George Nelson Drive
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
George Nelson Drive
7
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
208 ft
·
14 sec
9
Turn left onto US 12
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Dunes Highway
10
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Melton Road
11
Continue on US 12; US 20
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East 5th Avenue
12
Continue on US 12; US 20
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East 4th Avenue
13
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Street
14
Turn right onto 10th Place
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
10th Place
15
Arrive at destination
10th Place
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 2 — 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
|
~1m in
|
10th Street
Turn left onto 10th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
W Street
At end of road, turn right onto W Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
North Loop Drive
Turn right onto North Loop Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
George Nelson Drive
Turn left onto George Nelson Drive
Navigation decision point
5
2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.03 one way
$4.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.23 | $4.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.50 | $5.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.14 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Late night in Gary on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 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
14 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
26m 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 for this entire 14.4-mile stretch. With 0% highway share, you'll be on surface streets for the full 25-minute duration. There isn't a 'longest stretch' to speak of, as the route is characterized by frequent intersections and changes in direction. This means staying engaged and paying close attention to navigation is key, as the road constantly requires your input. It's a distinctly urban and suburban transit experience.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.8 mi on Dunes Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near 10th Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 13 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.3 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (W Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (North Loop Drive): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 13 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.8 miles on Dunes Highway. 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 0.3 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (W Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (North Loop Drive): Navigation decision point.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Gary, IN
More from Burns Harbor, IN
More trips to Gary, IN
Explore more options from Burns Harbor, IN or browse trips ending in Gary, IN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IN road trips.