Origin
Gary, IN
Evening in Gary on Tuesday
Local time
6:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gary, IN to Simonton Lake, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
80.6 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gary, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Simonton Lake, IN
Tommes Frites
Trip Overview
Gary, IN to Simonton Lake, IN is 80.6 miles and takes about 1h 32m via Indiana Toll Road, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region and entirely within Indiana, offering a straightforward drive. It's primarily a surface road experience, making it a good option for a relaxed, short-distance excursion. You'll find the route easy to navigate, suitable for a quick getaway or a practical way to get from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.3 miles from Gary, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 76.7 mi | 1h 23m |
| Cassopolis Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West 5th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Harrison Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harrison Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 10th Place | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Indiana Toll Road
— 76.7 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gary, IN and Simonton Lake, IN.
1
Start on 10th Place
254 ft
·
15 sec
·
10th Place
2
Turn right onto Harrison Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Harrison Boulevard
3
Continue on Harrison Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Harrison Street
4
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 5th Avenue
5
Turn left onto SR 53
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Broadway
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 90 East
7
Merge onto I 90
77 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 92
Toward SR 19: Elkhart
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
this road
10
Turn right onto SR 19
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Cassopolis Street
11
Arrive at destination
SR 19
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 32 minutes, this is a perfect same-day trip. You can leave anytime, but an early start might help you avoid any local traffic congestion closer to Simonton Lake. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, you won't need to worry much about budgeting for gas. Since there are no designated stops in the data, feel free to pull over if you see a spot that catches your eye, but plan for a direct journey. The lack of a long highway segment means you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.3 miles from Gary, IN, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.7 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.3 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Simonton Lake, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gary, IN
This is one driving day of about 80.6 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Gary, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Indiana Toll Road for about 76.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.3 miles from Gary, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Indiana Toll Road if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.7 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 78.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Harrison Boulevard
Turn right onto Harrison Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue
Turn right onto US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 East
Navigation decision point
Toward I 90 East
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge onto I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
78.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward SR 19: Elkhart
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward SR 19: Elkhart
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.50 one way
$24.99 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $13.70 | $27.40 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.64 | $31.28 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $17.77 | $35.53 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.37
Indiana Toll Road
(76.7 mi)
$5.37
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.05 | $3.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.28 | $5.16 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Simonton Lake, IN
Evening in Simonton Lake on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Smith, IN
40 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
1h 32m 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 almost entirely surface roads, with a brief 76.7-mile stretch on the Indiana Toll Road. After the toll road, expect to transition to local streets like Cassopolis Street and West 5th Avenue. The extensive surface road portion means you'll encounter more local traffic and intersections as you approach your destination.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.7 mi on Indiana Toll Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Harrison Boulevard.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Gary, IN to Simonton Lake, IN is easy. At 1h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Harrison Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
893 ft
600 ft
Total Climb
389 ft
Total Descent
204 ft
Highest Point
893 ft
~34.6 mi in
Elevation Range
293 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Gary, IN
Full guide →Founded 1906
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
Arriving in Simonton Lake, IN
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 80.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.7 miles on Indiana Toll Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.37 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. 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: near the start (Harrison Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (US 12; US 20 / West 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Simonton Lake, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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