The drive from Gary, IN to Princes Lakes, IN covers 185 miles and takes about 3h 49m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, I 465, I 69 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly surface roads.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128.7 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.5 miles from Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
128.7 mi
2h 19m
I 465
13.7 mi
15m
I 69
8.8 mi
10m
State Road 135
7.4 mi
11m
I 65
5.9 mi
6m
Johnson County Route 144
5 mi
8m
West County Road 750 South
3.3 mi
8m
South County Road 300 West
3.2 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 128.7 mi, about 2h 19m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,173 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,837
Quietest
2 AM
~307 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Princes Lakes, 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
8.8 mi·10 min·I 69
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Exit 153Toward SR 144: Mooresville, BargersvilleUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn slight right onto SR 144
9 ft·0 sec·SR 144
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn slight left
103 ft·7 sec
20
Turn left onto SR 144
0.1 mi·21 sec·SR 144
21
Turn straight onto CR 144
2.7 mi·4 min·Johnson County Route 144
22
Enter roundabout onto CR 144
117 ft·1 sec·Johnson County Route 144
23
Continue on CR 144
0.4 mi·38 sec·Johnson County Route 144
24
Enter roundabout onto CR 144
101 ft·1 sec·Johnson County Route 144
25
Continue on CR 144
1.9 mi·2 min·Johnson County Route 144
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on CR 144
0.8 mi·1 min·West Old Plank Road
27
Turn right onto SR 135
7.4 mi·11 min·State Road 135
28
Turn left onto SR 252
250 ft·7 sec·SR 252
29
Turn right onto South County Road 300 West
3.2 mi·7 min·South County Road 300 West
30
Continue on West County Road 750 South
3.3 mi·8 min·West County Road 750 South
31
Turn right onto Howard Prince Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Howard Prince Drive
32
Turn straight onto Dyson Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Dyson Drive
33
At end of road, turn left onto West Lakeview Drive
0.2 mi·45 sec·West Lakeview Drive
34
Turn left onto Hoover Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Hoover Drive
35
Arrive at destination
Hoover Drive
Trip Plan
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 92.5 miles from Gary, IN, or about 1h 45m 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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.5 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Princes Lakes, 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 185 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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.
The midpoint is around 92.5 miles from Gary, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.7 miles.
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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 163.5 — 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
8
163.5 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward SR 144: Mooresville, Bargersville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 153
Toward SR 144: Mooresville, Bargersville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.68 one way
$57.36 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$31.45
$62.90
premium
$4.93
$35.89
$71.79
diesel
$5.60
$40.78
$81.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.5
0
$19.43
$8.88
Efficient EV
46.3
0
$16.19
$7.40
EV Truck/SUV
74
0
$25.90
$11.84
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Aug 28, 2026
Origin
Gary, IN
Late night
in Gary on Thursday
Local time
12:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 27 at 8:38PM CDT until August 29 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 27 at 8:38PM CDT until August 29 at 7:30PM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Princes Lakes, IN
Late night
in Princes Lakes on Thursday
Local time
1:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Fog
NNE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 27 at 8:38PM CDT until August 29 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 27 at 8:38PM CDT until August 29 at 7:30PM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
89°F
Clermont, IN
93 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
3h 49m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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?
185 mi in 3h 49m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 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?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 185 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
933 ft600 ft
Total Climb
641 ft
Total Descent
429 ft
Highest Point
933 ft
~132.1 mi in
Elevation Range
333 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 Princes Lakes, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Bargersville 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 3h 49m. Total distance: 185 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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.
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 Princes Lakes, 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. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Princes Lakes, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
