The City of Gary, IN to Saint Marys, IN is 268.5 miles and takes about 5h 12m via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I 65, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. You'll find this route offers a mix of driving experiences, so consider it if you want a relatively quick trip without much complexity.
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
134.2 miles from City of Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
132.6 mi
2h 25m
I 65
123.3 mi
2h 19m
I 265
5.1 mi
5m
West 5th Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Paoli Pike
1.4 mi
3m
Saint Marys Road
1.2 mi
4m
Hilltop Road
0.5 mi
1m
Madison Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 25m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 120 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,947 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,538
Quietest
1 AM
~328 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9×
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 Saint Marys, 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
17 mi·22 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 65
1.9 mi·2 min·I 65
Exit 112AToward I 70 East: Dayton
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
104 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 65
Use the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 6BToward I 265 West, SR 62 West: New Albany
10
Merge onto I 265; SR 62
5.1 mi·5 min·I 265; SR 62
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 1Toward State Street
12
Turn right onto Paoli Pike
1.4 mi·3 min·Paoli Pike
13
Turn right onto Hilltop Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Hilltop Road
14
Turn left
0.3 mi·2 min
15
At end of road, turn left onto Spickert Knob Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·Spickert Knob Road
16
Turn right onto Jones Lane
0.3 mi·1 min·Jones Lane
17
Continue on Saint Marys Road
1.2 mi·4 min·Saint Marys Road
18
Arrive at destination
Saint Marys Road
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Saint Marys without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you can choose a convenient point along Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway or I 65 for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 132.6-mile segment on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. The $47 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but check current prices. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to depart later if needed, but an earlier start generally makes for a more relaxed experience.
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 134.2 miles from City of Gary, IN, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.6 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 59 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.2 miles or 2h 29m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Marys, 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 268.5 miles and 5h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 132.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 264.1 — 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.
6
154 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
258.3 mi into trip|~4h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 265 West, SR 62 West: New Albany
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6B
Toward I 265 West, SR 62 West: New Albany
5
264.1 mi into trip|~4h 56m in
Take the exit toward State Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1
Toward State Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.91 one way
$93.83 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.80
$50.76
$101.52
premium
$5.37
$56.75
$113.51
diesel
$5.52
$58.38
$116.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-25.
EV Charging Along Route
26 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Lafayette - Tesla Supercharger
Lafayette, IN
Tesla
24 DCFC
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Merrillville, IN
Tesla
22 DCFC
The Amp at 16 Tech - Tesla Supercharger
Indianapolis, IN
Tesla
16 DCFC
Fair Oaks Farms (North) - Tesla Supercharger
Fair Oaks, IN
Tesla
12 DCFC
Fair Oaks Farms - Tesla Supercharger
Fair Oaks, IN
Tesla
12 DCFC
Lebanon Crossing - Tesla Supercharger
Lebanon, IN
Tesla
11 DCFC
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Zionsville, IN
Tesla
10 DCFC
John T. McCutcheon Travel Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.6
0
$28.19
$12.89
Efficient EV
67.1
0
$23.49
$10.74
EV Truck/SUV
107.4
1
$37.59
$17.18
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 3, 2026
Origin
City of Gary, IN
Afternoon
in City of Gary on Wednesday
Local time
2:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
ESE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Saint Marys, IN
Afternoon
in Saint Marys on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
E 6 mph0% chanceLive 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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 12m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves a significant portion on major roads, with 48% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a 132.6-mile stretch on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway before transitioning to other routes. Expect to see a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving as you navigate between these different road types. The density of exits can vary, so be prepared for both open stretches and more developed areas.
48% 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: 132.6 mi on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 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.
Driving Effort5/10
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 268.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 135.1 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 154 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
928 ft529 ft
Total Climb
632 ft
Total Descent
545 ft
Highest Point
928 ft
~134.2 mi in
Elevation Range
399 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 12m. Total distance: 268.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 132.6 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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.
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 33 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 154 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint Marys, IN before the return drive.
