Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
12 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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
Portage, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Gary, IN to Portage, IN is 12 miles and takes about 18m via Indiana Toll Road and local roads, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Indiana. Expect a straightforward drive primarily using local roads with a brief stretch on the Indiana Toll Road. Given its brief length and minimal cost, this route is ideal for a quick transition or an easy addition to a larger Midwest journey, making it a practical choice for local transit.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| Willowcreek Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Madison Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 5th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Broadway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 8th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Gary, IN and Portage, IN.
Start on this road
Turn right onto West 8th Avenue
Turn left onto Madison Street
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
Turn left onto SR 53
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Willowcreek Road
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 10.1 — 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
Turn left onto SR 53 / Broadway
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 90 East
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Portage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.88 one way
$3.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.06 | $4.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.31 | $4.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.65 | $5.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.61
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$1
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.05 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Morning in City of Gary on Sunday
Local time
10:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Portage on Sunday
Local time
10:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This is a turn-heavy local drive with only a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating city streets for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.7 miles on the Indiana Toll Road, offering a brief respite from frequent turns. The route begins in Gary, IN, and progresses through local roads like Willowcreek Road and Madison Street before potentially merging onto the Indiana Toll Road for a portion of the journey. Be prepared for frequent adjustments as you navigate through urban and suburban areas.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 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.
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 12 miles you will encounter 10 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.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 12 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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