Origin
Elkhart, IN
Morning in Elkhart on Sunday
Local time
9:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elkhart, IN to Michigan City, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
57.3 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elkhart, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Michigan City, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Elkhart to Michigan City is 57.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via Indiana Toll Road and US 20, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, connecting two points in the Midwest region. Expect a local feel for much of the journey, with a significant portion on the Indiana Toll Road. It's a straightforward, relatively short trip perfect for a single day of travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 42.2 mi | 45m |
| US 20 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Cassopolis Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| East Michigan Boulevard | 2 mi | 3m |
| East Barker Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| SR 39 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Bristol Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Indiana Toll Road
— 42.2 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elkhart, IN and Michigan City, IN.
1
Start on Pletcher Court
293 ft
·
18 sec
·
Pletcher Court
2
Turn right onto West Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Franklin Street
3
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
South 2nd Street
4
Turn right onto West Jackson Boulevard
422 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Jackson Boulevard
5
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto SR 19
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Bristol Street
7
Turn left onto SR 19
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Cassopolis Street
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
9
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
this road
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
11
Merge onto I 80; I 90
42 mi
·
45 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 49
Toward SR 39: La Porte
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
this road
14
Turn slight right
247 ft
·
6 sec
15
Turn straight onto SR 39
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 39
16
Turn left onto US 20
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 20
17
Turn straight onto US 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 20
18
Continue on East Michigan Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Michigan Boulevard
19
Turn left onto South Roeske Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Roeske Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto East Barker Avenue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Barker Avenue
21
Continue on East Barker Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Barker Avenue
22
Turn right onto Pine Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Pine Street
23
Turn right onto East Homer Street
81 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Homer Street
24
Arrive at destination
East Homer Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.6 miles from Elkhart, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 55.5 — 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 Franklin Street
Turn right onto West Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 2nd Street
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Jackson Boulevard
Turn right onto West Jackson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
7
4.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
6
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
South Roeske Avenue
Turn left onto South Roeske Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.96 one way
$17.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.84 | $19.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.03 | $22.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.95
Indiana Toll Road
(42.2 mi)
$2.95
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Michigan City, IN
Morning in Michigan City on Sunday
Local time
8:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
22 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 12m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by frequent turns, blending highway speeds with more local road navigation. With 11% of the route on highways, you'll find stretches like the 42.2 miles on the Indiana Toll Road offering a more open, faster pace. However, the overall profile suggests a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll transition between these faster sections and more intricate city streets. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires attention as you navigate different road types.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.2 mi on Indiana Toll Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Franklin Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 57.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Jackson Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 57.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (11%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.2 miles on Indiana Toll Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.95 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Jackson Boulevard): 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 Michigan City, IN before heading back.
How this page is built
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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