This 231.7-mile drive from Cedar Lake, Indiana to Goshen, Indiana is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 4 hours and 34 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of roadways, with 43% of your journey on highways, and the estimated fuel cost is about $36. The route is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting a varied experience that breaks up the monotony. Since it's a single-day excursion within the Midwest region of Indiana, it's perfectly manageable without an overnight stay. Consider this a straightforward trip for getting between these two points.
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
115.8 miles from Cedar Lake, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
110.3 mi
1h 58m
I 65
100.1 mi
1h 54m
Wicker Avenue
5.1 mi
6m
East 181st Avenue
4.6 mi
6m
West McClain Avenue
4.3 mi
7m
West Commercial Avenue
2.6 mi
6m
West 141st Avenue
1.5 mi
5m
West 181st Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 110.3 mi, about 1h 58m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 82 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,134 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,783
Quietest
1 AM
~344 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Cedar Lake, IN and Goshen, IN.
1
Start on Lauerman Street
0.1 mi·36 sec·Lauerman Street
2
Turn right onto West 141st Avenue
1.5 mi·5 min·West 141st Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 41
5.1 mi·6 min·Wicker Avenue
4
Turn left onto SR 2
1.5 mi·2 min·West 181st Avenue
5
Continue on SR 2
2.6 mi·6 min·West Commercial Avenue
6
Continue on SR 2
4.6 mi·6 min·East 181st Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
8
Merge onto I 65
110 mi·1 hr 58 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
17 mi·22 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 65
1.9 mi·2 min·I 65
Exit 112AToward I 70 East: Dayton
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
81 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 65
Use the slight left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
Exit 29AToward SR 56 East: Scottsburg
13
Turn straight onto SR 56
4.3 mi·7 min·West McClain Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto South Goshen Road
1.0 mi·3 min·South Goshen Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto East Lovers Lane
12 ft·0 sec·East Lovers Lane
16
Arrive at destination
East Lovers Lane
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour and 34-minute journey, consider an early morning departure from Cedar Lake to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in where and when you choose to pause. The longest stretch on the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway means you can settle in for a good bit of driving before needing to look for services. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $36, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially before embarking on that 110.3-mile segment.
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 115.8 miles from Cedar Lake, IN, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.3 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 51 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.8 miles or 2h 16m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goshen, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar Lake, 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 Cedar Lake, IN
This is one driving day of about 231.7 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Cedar Lake, 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 Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 110.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.5 and 226.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.5 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the ramp toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
5
15.7 mi into trip|~28m in|I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
126 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
145 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
5
226.2 mi into trip|~4h 22m in
Take the exit toward SR 56 East: Scottsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 29A
Toward SR 56 East: Scottsburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.22 one way
$68.43 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.77
$75.55
premium
$4.72
$43.02
$86.04
diesel
$4.80
$43.75
$87.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.5
0
$24.33
$11.12
Efficient EV
57.9
0
$20.27
$9.27
EV Truck/SUV
92.7
1
$32.44
$14.83
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Cedar Lake, IN
Late night
in Cedar Lake on Sunday
Local time
2:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 10 to 15 mph75% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 10:10AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 11:04AM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Goshen, IN
Late night
in Goshen on Sunday
Local time
3:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
W 12 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 10:10AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 11:04AM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
61°F
Clermont, IN
116 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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
4h 34m 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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
$20
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway will be your longest continuous stretch, covering 110.3 miles, offering a substantial period on a single named road. With 43% of the drive on highways, expect a good portion of your travel to involve faster speeds and more direct routes. The 'mixed drive' profile indicates you'll transition between different types of roads, likely including some sections of I-65 and Wicker Avenue, which could mean shifts in traffic and road conditions. This blend ensures the drive isn't entirely an interstate grind, providing some variety as you travel.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.3 mi on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.5 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 231.7 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 15.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 126 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Goshen is a city of 34,000 people (2019) in northern Indiana. The city is known as a major recreational vehicle and accessories manufacturing center, the home of Goshen College, a small Mennonite liberal arts college, and the Elkhart County 4-H Fair, one of the largest county fairs in the United States.
Top landmarks
•Goshen Historic District — listed on the NRHP in Elkhart County, Indiana
•Goshen Carnegie Public Library — public library in Goshen Indiana
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 231.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 110.3 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 126 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Goshen, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
