Origin
City of Gary, IN
Late night in City of Gary on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 10m
Distance
206 mi
331 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
Orange, IN
Jahra Tasfia Reza
City of Gary, IN to Orange, IN is 206 miles and takes about 4h 10m via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest to Midwest journey stays within Indiana, offering a local drive experience. Expect a route with frequent turns and a relatively low highway share, suggesting a more intimate connection with the landscape. It's a manageable trip that can be completed comfortably within a single day, making it ideal for a weekend excursion or a quick transit.
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
103 miles from City of Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway | 132.6 mi | 2h 25m |
| East Main Street | 18 mi | 26m |
| US 52 | 14.9 mi | 22m |
| I 465 | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| I 69 | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| State Street | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| I 865 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| South 850 W | 2.5 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Gary, IN and Orange, IN.
Start on this road
Turn right onto West 8th Avenue
Turn left onto Madison Street
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
Turn right onto I 65
Keep slight right at fork onto I 865
Merge onto I 465
Merge onto I 69; I 465
Take the exit onto US 52
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
Enter roundabout onto US 52
Continue on US 52
Continue on US 52
Continue on US 52; SR 44
Continue on SR 44
Turn right onto South Main Street
Continue on South 850 W
Continue on County Line Road
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 10m duration and turn-heavy nature, starting your drive in the morning will give you ample daylight to navigate the route. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimate of $32, this trip is economical and straightforward. Pay close attention to road signs, especially when transitioning between Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, East Main Street, and US 52, as the frequent turns can be disorienting. The 206-mile distance is easily covered in a single day, so you can afford to be flexible with your departure time.
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.
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 45 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange, IN than in the middle of the route.
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 206 miles and 4h 10m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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.
A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 103 miles from City of Gary, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 132.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 162.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto West 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto I 865
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 465
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52 East: Brookville Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 toward New Palestine
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$32.21 one way
$64.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.36 | $70.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.64 | $79.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.48 | $90.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.8 | 0 | $21.63 | $9.89 |
| Efficient EV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.03 | $8.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.4 | 1 | $28.84 | $13.18 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in City of Gary on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Orange on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is characterized by its turn-heavy, local drive profile, with only 20% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time navigating surface streets and county roads, which means a more engaging driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 132.6 miles along Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, offering a period of consistent travel before you encounter more frequent changes in direction. Be prepared for a dynamic drive where you'll frequently adjust your course.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
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 206 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 865): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.2 miles (I 465): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Orange, IN, road signs begin pointing toward New Palestine along the way.
New Palestine
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 10m. Total distance: 206 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
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