The City of Gary, IN to Clarksville, IN is 262.6 miles and takes about 4 hours 55 minutes via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I 65, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive across the state with a clear destination in mind.
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
131.3 miles from City of Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
132.6 mi
2h 25m
I 65
126.9 mi
2h 23m
West 5th Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Madison Street
0.4 mi
1m
US 31
0.3 mi
<1m
Eastern Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
West 8th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
East Brooks Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 25m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 242 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,987 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,683
Quietest
2 AM
~354 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
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 City of Gary, IN and Clarksville, IN.
1
Start on this road
342 ft·27 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West 8th Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·West 8th Avenue
3
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Madison Street
4
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
1.8 mi·3 min·West 5th Avenue
5
Turn right onto I 65
133 mi·2 hr 25 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
17 mi·22 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 65
1.9 mi·2 min·I 65
Exit 112AToward I 70 East: Dayton
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
108 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 65
Use the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Eastern Boulevard
10
Turn straight onto US 31
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 31
11
Turn right onto Eastern Boulevard
0.2 mi·34 sec·Eastern Boulevard
12
Turn left onto East Brooks Avenue
32 ft·1 sec·East Brooks Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
East Brooks Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4 hour 55 minute drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid any potential evening congestion. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself. The fuel cost is estimated at $42, so ensure your tank is full before departing Gary. Pay attention to the highway share; the route shifts from faster highway driving to surface roads, so be prepared to adjust your speed and awareness as needed, especially during the 132.6-mile stretch on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
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 131.3 miles from City of Gary, IN, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.6 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 58 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.3 miles or 2h 26m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving City of Gary, 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 City of Gary, IN
This is one driving day of about 262.6 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from City of Gary, 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 132.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 262.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West 8th Avenue
Turn right onto West 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
135.1 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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
154 mi into trip|~2h 55m 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
262.4 mi into trip|~4h 54m in|Eastern Boulevard
Turn right onto Eastern Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
262.6 mi into trip|~4h 55m in|East Brooks Avenue
Turn left onto East Brooks Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.43 one way
$86.86 round trip
$4.20/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.56
$47.16
$94.33
premium
$5.23
$54.07
$108.14
diesel
$6.20
$64.09
$128.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-05.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.8
0
$27.57
$12.60
Efficient EV
65.7
0
$22.98
$10.50
EV Truck/SUV
105
1
$36.76
$16.81
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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 11, 2026
Origin
City of Gary, IN
Morning
in City of Gary on Tuesday
Local time
6:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
ENE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Clarksville, IN
Morning
in Clarksville on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 5 to 8 mph50% chanceLive forecast
46°F
Beech Grove, IN
131 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
4 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 55m 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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$20
Park Closure: Trail Closure - Dunewood Trace
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Little Calumet River 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?
This drive features a 48% highway share, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 132.6 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. You'll notice the transition from highway speeds to more frequent stops and intersections as you move onto surface roads. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so expect variations in driving pace.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.6 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West 8th Avenue.
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 262.6 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 0.1 miles (West 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 135.1 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 154 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Clarksville is a city in Clark County in Southern Indiana, directly across the Ohio River from Louisville. It is the oldest town in the Indiana Territory with a population of 21,000. The city is served by an overlay complex of two area codes: 812 and 930.
Top landmarks
•Old Clarksville Site — archaeological site in Clarksville, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 262.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). 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 132.6 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 34 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 0.1 miles (West 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 135.1 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 154 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 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Clarksville, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
