This 298.2-mile drive from Centerville, IN to the City of Gary, IN is a solid day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 12 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with a 0% highway share, making it a more turn-heavy experience. Budget around $45 for fuel for this journey. Given the duration and the nature of the roads, it's entirely manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout your travels.
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
150.5 miles from Centerville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
138 mi
2h 31m
I 69
74.5 mi
1h 22m
US 231
29.2 mi
35m
Newton Street
20.4 mi
23m
South John F Kennedy Avenue
17 mi
22m
I 74
9.2 mi
10m
65
3.9 mi
4m
West County Road 800 North
2.2 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 138 mi, about 2h 31m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,864 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,433
Quietest
2 AM
~258 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Centerville, IN and City of Gary, IN.
1
Start on North County Road 50 West
0.6 mi·2 min·North County Road 50 West
2
Turn right onto West County Road 800 North
2.2 mi·7 min·West County Road 800 North
3
Turn left onto US 231
29 mi·35 min·US 231
4
Turn left onto US 231; SR 56
20 mi·23 min·Newton Street
5
Continue on US 50; US 150; US 231
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Broadway Street
6
Turn left onto US 231
17 mi·22 min·South John F Kennedy Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
8
Merge onto I 69
74 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
1.4 mi·3 min
Exit 163Toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
10
Merge onto I 74; I 465
9.2 mi·10 min·I 74; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto 65
3.9 mi·4 min·65
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 20Toward I 65 North: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 65
18 mi·19 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 52
0.2 mi·15 sec·US 52
Exit 141Toward US 52 West
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
16
Merge onto I 65
120 mi·2 hr 11 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto US 12; US 20
1.0 mi·1 min·East 5th Avenue
18
Continue on US 12; US 20
0.9 mi·1 min·East 4th Avenue
19
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Madison Street
20
Turn right onto West 8th Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·West 8th Avenue
21
Turn left
342 ft·25 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this 5-hour, 12-minute drive is best tackled in one day, consider an early morning departure from Centerville to maximize daylight hours. With a fuel cost estimate of $45, it’s wise to fill up before you leave or at one of your planned stops. Given the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and grab a bite, perhaps midway through your 298.2-mile journey. Keep an eye on your GPS, as the frequent turns on local roads can be easy to miss if you're not paying close attention.
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 150.5 miles from Centerville, IN, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138 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 66 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.5 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Gary, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Centerville, 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 Centerville, IN
This is one driving day of about 301 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Centerville, 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 138 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 52.6 and 158.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
52.6 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|US 231 / South John F Kennedy Avenue
Turn left onto US 231 / South John F Kennedy Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
69.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|I 69
Merge onto I 69
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
144.3 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 163
Toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
6
155 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|65
Keep slight left at fork onto 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
158.9 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 20
Toward I 65 North: Chicago
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.45 one way
$88.90 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$49.07
$98.14
premium
$4.72
$55.89
$111.77
diesel
$4.80
$56.83
$113.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.3
1
$31.61
$14.45
Efficient EV
75.3
0
$26.34
$12.04
EV Truck/SUV
120.4
1
$42.14
$19.26
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Centerville, IN
Evening
in Centerville on Saturday
Local time
8:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WSW 6 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:50PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
City of Gary, IN
Evening
in City of Gary on Saturday
Local time
8:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Patchy Smoke
SW 10 mph57% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:50PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
82°F
Bloomington, IN
151 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
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
5h 52m 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.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway mileage to speak of. You'll be covering 298.2 miles primarily on roads like West County Road 800 North and Newton Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the profile suggests frequent turns and changes in road type rather than long, open stretches. This means you'll be actively navigating for most of the 5-hour-plus journey, keeping your attention on the road and the local environment.
83% 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: 138 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 52.6 miles in near US 231 / South John F Kennedy Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 301 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 52.6 miles (US 231 / South John F Kennedy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 69.9 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 52m. Total distance: 301 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 138 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 City of 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. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 52.6 miles (US 231 / South John F Kennedy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 69.9 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at City of Gary, IN before the return drive.
