The City of Gary, IN to Mount Vernon, IN is 294.2 miles and takes about 6h 12m via US 41, SR 63, and Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, moving from the Midwest region into another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it a practical option for a single-day trip. You'll experience a consistent driving environment for most of the way, allowing for efficient travel.
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
147.1 miles from City of Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 41
157.4 mi
3h 22m
SR 63
63.4 mi
1h 20m
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
41.1 mi
46m
East Lloyd Expressway
19.9 mi
22m
State Road 14
9.2 mi
12m
West 5th Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Madison Street
0.4 mi
1m
SR 62
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 41
— 157.4 mi, about 3h 22m
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
1.8 mi·3 min·West 5th Avenue
5
Turn right onto I 65
41 mi·46 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·46 sec
Exit 220Toward SR 14: WinamacUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto SR 14
9.2 mi·12 min·State Road 14
8
Turn left onto US 41
26 mi·32 min·US 41
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
22 mi·26 min·US 41
10
Continue on SR 63
63 mi·1 hr 20 min·SR 63
11
Continue on US 41
58 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 41
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit onto US 41; US 150
0.2 mi·28 sec·US 41; US 150
13
Merge onto US 41; US 50; US 150
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; US 50; US 150
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 41
52 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 41
15
Take the exit onto SR 62
0.3 mi·37 sec·SR 62
Toward SR 62 West: Lloyd Expressway
16
Merge onto SR 62
20 mi·22 min·East Lloyd Expressway
17
Arrive at destination
SR 62; SR 69
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 12m drive time, leaving in the morning will allow you to reach Mount Vernon with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one planned stop and a fuel cost around $46, this trip is manageable for a single day. The longest stretch on US 41 is over 150 miles, so plan to refuel before you begin this segment if your tank is low. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the end of the highway portions to ensure a smooth transition to surface roads.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 147.1 miles from City of Gary, IN, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.4 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 65 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.1 miles or 3h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 7m
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 294.2 miles and 6h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 US 41 for about 157.4 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 0.1 and 43.5 — 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
4
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|Madison Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue
Turn right onto US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Turn right onto I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
43.5 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward SR 14: Winamac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 220
Toward SR 14: Winamac
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.99 one way
$91.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$50.50
$101.00
premium
$4.89
$56.62
$113.23
diesel
$5.61
$64.96
$129.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.3
1
$30.89
$14.12
Efficient EV
73.6
0
$25.74
$11.77
EV Truck/SUV
117.7
1
$41.19
$18.83
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
City of Gary, IN
Morning
in City of Gary on Tuesday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mount Vernon, IN
Morning
in Mount Vernon on Tuesday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
6h 12m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 A.M., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of t...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 223.2
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?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 82% of the trip on major roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 157.4 miles on US 41. You'll encounter a significant amount of highway driving before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a fairly consistent pace for the majority of your travel, with fewer transitions between different road types.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 157.4 mi on US 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 41 and SR 63. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West 8th Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 294.2 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 0.1 miles (West 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 12m. Total distance: 294.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 157.4 miles on US 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 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. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mount Vernon, IN before the return drive.
