Gary, IN to Graham, IN is 254.9 miles and takes about 4h 57m via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I-69, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mix of highway speeds and surface road cruising, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll have ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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
127.5 miles from Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
128.7 mi
2h 19m
I 69
85.8 mi
1h 34m
I 465
13.7 mi
15m
SR 57
9.2 mi
13m
I 65
5.9 mi
6m
Martin Luther King Drive
2.5 mi
4m
SR 358
1.8 mi
3m
West 15th Avenue
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 128.7 mi, about 2h 19m
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 Gary, IN and Graham, IN.
1
Start on 10th Place
55 ft·4 sec·10th Place
2
Turn right onto Harrison Street
480 ft·28 sec·Harrison Street
3
Turn left onto West 11th Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·West 11th Avenue
4
Turn right onto Madison Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·Madison Street
5
Turn left onto West 15th Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·West 15th Avenue
6
Continue on Central Avenue
0.2 mi·21 sec·Central Avenue
7
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Drive
2.5 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King Drive
8
Turn left onto US 6 Business
0.2 mi·34 sec·East Ridge Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
10
Merge onto I 65
129 mi·2 hr 19 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
5.9 mi·6 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
13
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
14
Merge onto I 465
14 mi·15 min·I 465
15
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 69
47 mi·53 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
38 mi·41 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 76Toward SR 58: Elnora, Odon
19
Turn right onto SR 58
0.9 mi·1 min·SR 58
20
Continue on SR 358
1.8 mi·3 min·SR 358
21
Turn left onto SR 57; SR 358
9.2 mi·13 min·SR 57; SR 358
22
Turn right onto West 500 North
1.0 mi·4 min·West 500 North
23
Turn left onto North 100 West
0.6 mi·1 min·North 100 West
24
Turn right onto West 450 North
0.6 mi·2 min·West 450 North
25
Turn right
217 ft·9 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the drive's duration of under 5 hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Leaving mid-morning will allow you to avoid the earliest rush hour traffic in Gary and still arrive in Graham with daylight to spare. The single recommended stop is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 128.7-mile stretch on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate.
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 127.5 miles from Gary, IN, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.7 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 56 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.5 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Graham, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving 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 Gary, IN
This is one driving day of about 254.9 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from 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 128.7 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 240.5 — 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 11th Avenue
Turn left onto West 11th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
4.8 mi into trip|~10m in|I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
133.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m 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.
7
153.9 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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
240.5 mi into trip|~4h 30m in
Take the exit toward SR 58: Elnora, Odon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 76
Toward SR 58: Elnora, Odon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.64 one way
$75.29 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.56
$83.11
premium
$4.72
$47.33
$94.65
diesel
$4.80
$48.13
$96.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.5
0
$26.76
$12.24
Efficient EV
63.7
0
$22.30
$10.20
EV Truck/SUV
102
1
$35.69
$16.31
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Gary, IN
Late night
in Gary on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
WSW 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 10:41PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Graham, IN
Late night
in Graham on Sunday
Local time
4:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 10:41PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
82°F
Beech Grove, IN
127 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
2 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
4h 57m 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
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...
19 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 254.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a 46% highway drive, featuring a long stretch of 128.7 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway before transitioning. You'll experience a mixed profile of highway and surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and traffic density. The shift from highway to surface roads will likely occur around the halfway point, requiring you to adjust your driving style accordingly.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.7 mi on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West 11th Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 254.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West 11th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.5 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
957 ft453 ft
Total Climb
679 ft
Total Descent
826 ft
Highest Point
957 ft
~127.5 mi in
Elevation Range
504 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 Gary, IN to Graham, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Odon along the way.
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana. It is perhaps best known as the birthplace of the legendary pop star Michael Jackson.
Founded in 1906 as a company town for U.S. Steel, it thrived in the 1950s and early 60s and earned the nickname "The Magic City". In 2007, it was described by writer Jessica Hopper as "the Pompeii of the Midwest, a city of ruins where life can seem to have just suddenly stopped".
Top landmarks
•Van Buren Terrace Historic District — historic district in Indiana, United States
•Gary City Center Historic District — historic district in Gary, Indiana
•Union Station — former railroad station in Gary, Indiana, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 254.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 128.7 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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 Graham, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West 11th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.5 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park and George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Graham, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
