Gary, IN to Newburgh, IN is 315.6 miles and takes about 5h 53m via I 69 and I 465, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traveling through the Midwest region. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way south. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is well-suited for a quick trip or a segment of a larger Midwest adventure.
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
157.8 miles from City of Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
156.4 mi
2h 50m
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
132.6 mi
2h 25m
I 465
13.7 mi
15m
I 65
5.9 mi
6m
West State Route 662
2.1 mi
3m
West 5th Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
West Jennings Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Madison Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 156.4 mi, about 2h 50m
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
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 City of Gary, IN and Newburgh, 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
5.9 mi·6 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
8
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
9
Merge onto I 465
14 mi·15 min·I 465
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 69
47 mi·53 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
109 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
Exit 5Toward SR 662
14
Keep slight right at fork
157 ft·5 sec
15
Turn right onto SR 662
0.2 mi·19 sec·Covert Avenue
16
Continue on SR 662
2.1 mi·3 min·West State Route 662
17
Continue on West Jennings Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West Jennings Street
18
Arrive at destination
West Jennings Street
Trip Plan
Given the under six-hour drive time, leaving Gary, IN in the morning should get you to Newburgh, IN with plenty of daylight to spare. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition off I 69, as services can become more spread out on surface roads. The $56 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's always wise to have a little extra buffer, particularly if you plan on making more stops than anticipated.
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 157.8 miles from City of Gary, IN, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.4 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 69 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.8 miles or 2h 58m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newburgh, 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 315.6 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 I 69 for about 156.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 203.8 — 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.
5
140.9 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 465 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 123
Toward I 465 South
7
155.5 mi into trip|~2h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Evansville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
203.8 mi into trip|~3h 50m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.47 one way
$104.94 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$57.16
$114.31
premium
$5.18
$64.40
$128.80
diesel
$5.35
$66.47
$132.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.7
1
$33.14
$15.15
Efficient EV
78.9
0
$27.62
$12.62
EV Truck/SUV
126.2
1
$44.18
$20.20
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
City of Gary, IN
Afternoon
in City of Gary on Wednesday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Rain Showers
NNE 5 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 2 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 3 at 12:48PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Newburgh, IN
Afternoon
in Newburgh on Wednesday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 1 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 2 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 3 at 12:48PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
85°F
Clermont, IN
158 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
7 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 53m 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: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 261.2
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 315.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 56% highway, so expect a good amount of time on interstates. The longest stretch you'll encounter is 156.4 miles on I 69. After I 69, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. Pay attention to the change in driving pace as you move from faster highway speeds to more moderate speeds on local routes.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.4 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 12 significant decision points across 315.6 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 135.1 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 315.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.4 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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 Newburgh, 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 28 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 135.1 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park, George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. 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 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Newburgh, IN before the return drive.
