This 120.7-mile drive from the City of Gary, IN to Pike, IN will take you about 2 hours and 16 minutes. It's a manageable trip, easily completed in a single day, with an estimated fuel cost of $19. You'll be navigating primarily local roads with a few highway stretches, so expect a more involved driving experience. The journey stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. This route isn't about covering vast distances quickly, but rather a focused drive with a bit more engagement.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.3 miles from City of Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
115.8 mi
2h 7m
IN-47
2 mi
3m
West 5th Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Madison Street
0.4 mi
1m
West 8th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
SR 39
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 115.8 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Gary, IN and Pike, 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
116 mi·2 hr 7 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 146Toward SR 47: Sheridan, Thorntown
7
Turn left onto SR 47
2.0 mi·3 min·IN-47
8
Turn right onto SR 39
0.1 mi·11 sec·SR 39
9
Arrive at destination
SR 39
Trip Plan
With a total duration of 2 hours and 16 minutes, this trip is ideal for a single day. You can depart Gary anytime, but leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight for the 120.7 miles. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief break midway, perhaps around the 60-mile mark, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto the longer stretches on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, and consider topping off before you leave Gary to ensure you have plenty for the $19 estimated fuel cost.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.3 miles from City of Gary, IN, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.8 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pike, 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 120.7 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from City of Gary, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 115.8 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 118.2 — 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.
6
118.2 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward SR 47: Sheridan, Thorntown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 146
Toward SR 47: Sheridan, Thorntown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.87 one way
$37.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.72
$41.44
premium
$4.89
$23.23
$46.46
diesel
$5.61
$26.65
$53.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.2
0
$12.67
$5.79
Efficient EV
30.2
0
$10.56
$4.83
EV Truck/SUV
48.3
0
$16.90
$7.72
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
City of Gary, IN
Morning
in City of Gary on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pike, IN
Morning
in Pike on Sunday
Local time
10:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Shelby, IN
60 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 16m 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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$20
near mile 4.2
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for much of this 120.7-mile journey. While it has a highway share of 2, the majority of your time will be spent on roads like Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and IN-47. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 115.8 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, indicating a significant portion where you can settle into a rhythm before navigating more local sections. This profile suggests a drive that requires more active steering and attention compared to a pure interstate cruise.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.8 mi on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West 8th Avenue.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from City of Gary, IN to Pike, IN is easy. At 2h 16m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 2h 16m. Total distance: 120.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.8 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue): 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 Pike, IN before heading back.
