Origin
City of Gary, IN
Afternoon in City of Gary on Sunday
Local time
2:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Gary, IN to Mount Vernon, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 59m
Distance
133 mi
214 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 48m
★
6 AM
2h 59m
8 AM
3h 22m
10 AM
3h 7m
12 PM
3h 5m
3 PM
3h 8m
5 PM
3h 21m
8 PM
2h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Gary, IN
Артем Дворецкий
Mount Vernon, IN
Veronika Andrews
Trip Overview
Gary, IN to Mount Vernon, IN is 133 miles and takes about 2 hours 59 minutes via East Morthland Drive and US 31, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip entirely within Indiana, transitioning from the Midwest's industrial edge to its more rural heartland. You'll primarily be on well-maintained state and federal highways, making it an accessible drive for most vehicles. Consider this journey if you're looking for a brief, efficient transit between two points in the Hoosier State without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.5 miles from City of Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Morthland Drive | 40.3 mi | 52m |
| US 31 | 32.5 mi | 40m |
| Indiana Toll Road | 15.5 mi | 18m |
| West 1000 North | 11.1 mi | 15m |
| SR 49 | 9 mi | 12m |
| Southwood Drive | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| North 500 West | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| State Road 16 | 3.1 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
East Morthland Drive
— 40.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Gary, IN and Mount Vernon, 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
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
West 5th Avenue
5
Turn left onto SR 53
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Broadway
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 90 East
7
Merge onto I 90
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 31
Toward SR 49: Chesterton, Valparaiso
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto SR 49
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
SR 49
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward US 30 East: Plymouth
11
Merge onto US 30; SR 2
40 mi
·
52 min
·
East Morthland Drive
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 31 South
13
Merge onto US 31
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 31
14
Merge onto US 31
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 31
15
Turn slight right
512 ft
·
6 sec
16
Continue on US 31
28 mi
·
34 min
·
US 31
17
Turn left onto West 1000 North
11 mi
·
15 min
·
West 1000 North
18
Continue on SR 16
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
State Road 16
19
Turn right onto SR 15
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
North 500 West
20
Continue on SR 15
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
County Road 500 West
21
Continue on SR 15
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cass Street
22
Continue on SR 15
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Cass Street
23
Turn left onto SR 15
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Canal Street
24
Turn right onto SR 13; SR 15
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Wabash Street
25
Turn slight right onto SR 13
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Southwood Drive
26
Turn left onto South Old State Road 13
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Old State Road 13
27
Arrive at destination
South Old State Road 13
Trip Plan
With a duration under 3 hours, this is an easy same-day trip, offering flexibility for your departure time. You'll have ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed, and the single planned stop is easy to manage. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as the longest stretch without a town could be around 40 miles. For this route, a good tip is to fill up in Gary before you depart, as fuel availability might be more consistent in the larger starting city compared to smaller towns along the way.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.5 miles from City of Gary, IN, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.3 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 29 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.5 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Vernon, 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 133 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 East Morthland Drive for about 40.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.5 miles from City of Gary, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 17 — 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
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
SR 53 / Broadway
Turn left onto SR 53 / Broadway
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 East
Navigation decision point
Toward I 90 East
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge onto I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
17 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward SR 49: Chesterton, Valparaiso
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward SR 49: Chesterton, Valparaiso
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.79 one way
$41.59 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.83 | $45.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.59 | $51.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.36 | $58.73 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
Indiana Toll Road
(15.5 mi)
$1.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.96 | $6.38 |
| Efficient EV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.64 | $5.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.2 | 0 | $18.62 | $8.51 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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
Mount Vernon, IN
Afternoon in Mount Vernon on Sunday
Local time
3:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Culver, IN
67 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
8 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
2h 59m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$20
near mile 13.8
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park Closure: Mount Baldy Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive, with 31% on highways. You'll experience a 40.3-mile stretch on East Morthland Drive, which may feel more local before transitioning to larger arteries like US 31. Expect a combination of faster-paced highway segments and potentially slower, more controlled sections as you pass through towns. The road's character shifts gradually, moving from more developed areas to the open landscapes characteristic of southern Indiana. It's not an all-interstate grind, nor is it a purely rural byway, offering a balanced driving experience.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.3 mi on East Morthland Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 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 Effort
6/10
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 133 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.9 miles (SR 53 / Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from City of Gary, IN to Mount Vernon, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Valparaiso along the way.
Valparaiso
17 mi in
|
~22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 133 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). 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 40.3 miles on East Morthland Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.09 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Mount Vernon, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (SR 53 / Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mount Vernon, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. 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
More trips to Mount Vernon, IN
Explore more options from City of Gary, IN or browse trips ending in Mount Vernon, IN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IN road trips.