Spanning 258.9 miles from Gary to New Pekin, this Indiana transit typically takes about 5 hours and 3 minutes to complete. You will primarily navigate via the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, I-65, and State Road 56. Given the duration, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $39 on fuel for the trek. Since both the origin and destination are situated within the Midwest, you can anticipate a consistent regional feel as you traverse the state from north to south.
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
129.5 miles from Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
128.7 mi
2h 19m
I 65
99.9 mi
1h 53m
State Road 56
15.5 mi
23m
State Road 60
6.6 mi
11m
Martin Luther King Drive
2.5 mi
4m
Salem Bypass
2.1 mi
3m
West 15th Avenue
1 mi
1m
West McClain Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 128.7 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gary, IN and New Pekin, 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
17 mi·22 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 65
1.9 mi·2 min·I 65
Exit 112AToward I 70 East: Dayton
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
81 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 65
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 29BToward SR 56 West: Salem
15
Turn straight onto SR 56
0.9 mi·1 min·West McClain Avenue
16
Continue on SR 56
0.2 mi·15 sec·West Mount Drive
17
Continue on SR 56
16 mi·23 min·State Road 56
18
Turn left onto SR 60; SR 135
2.1 mi·3 min·Salem Bypass
19
Enter roundabout onto SR 60
226 ft·3 sec·State Road 60
20
Continue on SR 60
6.6 mi·11 min·State Road 60
21
Arrive at destination
SR 60
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the route requires a $39 fuel investment, check your tank before merging onto the longer highway stretches to avoid unnecessary detours. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy for maintaining a steady pace and avoiding potential traffic buildup on busier segments. Because this is a straightforward one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal preferences. Prioritize your safety during the final leg on State Road 56, where local road conditions may require more focused attention than the interstate portions.
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 129.5 miles from Gary, IN, or about 2h 25m 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 57 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.5 miles or 2h 25m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Pekin, 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 258.9 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 233.4 — 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.
6
152.5 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.
5
233.4 mi into trip|~4h 23m in
Take the exit toward SR 56 West: Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 29B
Toward SR 56 West: Salem
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.48 one way
$80.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$44.44
$88.88
premium
$4.89
$49.82
$99.65
diesel
$5.61
$57.16
$114.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.7
0
$27.18
$12.43
Efficient EV
64.7
0
$22.65
$10.36
EV Truck/SUV
103.6
1
$36.25
$16.57
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Gary, IN
Late night
in Gary on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph55% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:37PM EDT until April 17 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 6:31PM CDT until April 15 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
New Pekin, IN
Late night
in New Pekin on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live 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
14 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 3m 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
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed profile that transitions from major corridors to more local routes. You will spend roughly 39% of your time on highways, with a significant portion of the journey defined by a 128.7-mile stretch along the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. After completing this longest uninterrupted section, the road character shifts as you transition onto the state road network. Expect a transition from fast-paced interstate travel to the more deliberate pace required by State Road 56. It is a functional route that keeps you moving efficiently while offering a clear change in scenery as you move through Indiana.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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?
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 11th 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 258.9 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 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
881 ft600 ft
Total Climb
587 ft
Total Descent
477 ft
Highest Point
881 ft
~111 mi in
Elevation Range
281 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 258.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). 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 128.7 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Pekin, IN before the return drive.
