The City of Gary, IN to Scottsburg, IN is 288 miles and takes about 5h 37m via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I-69, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll experience a mix of highway driving and surface roads, offering a straightforward path for a single-day excursion. Plan for a direct drive with a clear objective of reaching your destination efficiently.
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
144 miles from City of Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
132.6 mi
2h 25m
I 69
115.7 mi
2h 6m
I 465
13.7 mi
15m
SR 56
11.1 mi
19m
I 65
5.9 mi
6m
South County Road 300 East
2.9 mi
11m
West 5th Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
SR 64
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 25m
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 Scottsburg, 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
68 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 46Toward SR 56, SR 61: Petersburg, Jasper
14
Turn left onto SR 56; SR 61
11 mi·19 min·SR 56; SR 61
15
Turn left onto SR 64
1.5 mi·2 min·SR 64
16
Turn right onto South County Road 300 East
2.9 mi·11 min·South County Road 300 East
17
Arrive at destination
South County Road 300 East
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 37m estimated drive time, departing in the morning from Gary will allow you to reach Scottsburg with plenty of daylight to spare. The route includes one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel. With a total fuel cost estimated around $51, it's wise to fill up before leaving Gary to ensure you have a full tank for the longest stretch on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. Pay attention to the transition between highway and surface roads, as this can affect your travel pace.
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 144 miles from City of Gary, IN, or about 2h 41m 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 63 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144 miles or 2h 41m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsburg, 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 288 miles and 5h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 272 — 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
6
272 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Take the exit toward SR 56, SR 61: Petersburg, Jasper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 46
Toward SR 56, SR 61: Petersburg, Jasper
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.88 one way
$95.77 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$52.16
$104.31
premium
$5.18
$58.77
$117.54
diesel
$5.35
$60.66
$121.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.4
1
$30.24
$13.82
Efficient EV
72
0
$25.20
$11.52
EV Truck/SUV
115.2
1
$40.32
$18.43
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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 3, 2026
Origin
City of Gary, IN
Afternoon
in City of Gary on Wednesday
Local time
2:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 9:48PM EDT until June 4 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Scottsburg, IN
Afternoon
in Scottsburg on Wednesday
Local time
3:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Clear
ENE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 9:48PM EDT until June 4 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
85°F
Clermont, IN
144 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
3 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 37m 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
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 288
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
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 268.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 51% of this route is highway driving. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 132.6 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway before transitioning to I-69 and I-465. Expect a mixed-use profile, meaning you'll shift between higher-speed highway cruising and navigating surface roads with more frequent exits and potentially slower speeds. Keep an eye out for the change in road type as you progress through the state.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 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?
6/10
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 Effort6/10
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 288 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 140.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
926 ft441 ft
Total Climb
467 ft
Total Descent
630 ft
Highest Point
926 ft
~123.4 mi in
Elevation Range
485 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
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 Scottsburg, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Jasper along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 37m. Total distance: 288 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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 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 Scottsburg, 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, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scottsburg, IN before the return drive.
