This 244.3-mile journey from Guilford to Hammond, Indiana, is a straightforward drive primarily utilizing I-65 and I-74, with a small portion on SR 1. Clocking in at about 4 hours and 44 minutes of pure driving time, it's a comfortable day trip, meaning you won't need to break it up overnight. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest-to-Midwest excursion is around $38, making it an economical choice. The highway-focused profile suggests a route that prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours, perfect if you're looking to cover ground quickly and reliably within Indiana. You'll find this drive is well-suited for a single day of travel.
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
122.1 miles from Guilford, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
146.3 mi
2h 42m
I 74
69.5 mi
1h 14m
SR 1
9.1 mi
15m
Borman Expressway
8 mi
10m
Southeastern Avenue
5 mi
7m
173rd Street
1 mi
2m
Indianapolis Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 146.3 mi, about 2h 42m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,104 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,735
Quietest
2 AM
~253 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.3×
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 Guilford, IN and Hammond, IN.
1
Start on this road
140 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto SR 1
9.1 mi·15 min·SR 1
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 74 West: IndianapolisUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 74
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·I 74
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on this road
1.2 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 94Toward Southeastern Avenue
7
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
3.6 mi·5 min·Southeastern Avenue
8
Enter roundabout onto Southeastern Avenue
106 ft·5 sec·Southeastern Avenue
9
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·Southeastern Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Continue on Cruse Street
422 ft·14 sec·Cruse Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto East Market Street
364 ft·15 sec·East Market Street
12
Turn left onto Dickson Street
526 ft·20 sec·Dickson Street
13
Turn left onto East Ohio Street
129 ft·5 sec·East Ohio Street
14
Turn right onto Dickson Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dickson Street
15
Turn left onto East New York Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East New York Street
16
Turn right onto North Pine Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Pine Street
17
Take the ramp
124 ft·3 sec
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 65 North: ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 65
30 mi·35 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit onto US 52
0.2 mi·15 sec·US 52
Exit 141Toward US 52 West
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
22
Merge onto I 65
117 mi·2 hr 7 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Exit 259AToward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
24
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6
8.0 mi·10 min·Borman Expressway
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 2Toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis BoulevardUse the slight left lane.
27
Turn straight onto SR 152
0.3 mi·33 sec·Indianapolis Boulevard
28
Turn left onto 173rd Street
1.0 mi·2 min·173rd Street
Use the left lane.
29
Turn right onto Columbia Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·Columbia Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Columbia Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 44-minute duration, starting your trip in Guilford in the morning will allow you to reach Hammond with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel the need to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 146.3-mile stretch on I-65, as services can sometimes be spaced out on longer interstate segments. The $38 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have the flexibility to depart and arrive at times that best suit your schedule.
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 122.1 miles from Guilford, IN, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.3 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 54 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.1 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 3h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hammond, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Guilford, 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 Guilford, IN
This is one driving day of about 244.3 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Guilford, 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 I 65 for about 146.3 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.4 and 242.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9.4 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Indianapolis
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 74 West: Indianapolis
8
86.1 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 65 North: Chicago
8
233 mi into trip|~4h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
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 259A
Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
8
242.4 mi into trip|~4h 39m in
Take the exit toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis Boulevard
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 2
Toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis...
8
242.6 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.08 one way
$72.16 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$39.83
$79.66
premium
$4.72
$45.36
$90.72
diesel
$4.80
$46.13
$92.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.3
0
$25.65
$11.73
Efficient EV
61.1
0
$21.38
$9.77
EV Truck/SUV
97.7
1
$34.20
$15.64
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 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
Guilford, IN
Afternoon
in Guilford on Sunday
Local time
1:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hammond, IN
Afternoon
in Hammond on Sunday
Local time
12:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WNW 10 to 15 mph63% chanceLive forecast
66°F
Beech Grove, IN
122 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
4h 44m 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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
$20
near mile 235.8
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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 95% of your travel occurring on interstates. The drive features a significant longest stretch of 146.3 miles on I-65, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed and minimal turns. While the main roads are interstates, the brief inclusion of SR 1 might offer a slight change of pace before rejoining the highway system. This route is designed for covering distance efficiently, so the character is largely defined by the speed and flow of major roadways.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 146.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 244.3 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 9.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 86.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 233 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Hammond is a Chicagoland city of some 76,000 people (2019) in Lake County, Indiana—bordering Chicago's Far Southeast Side. Most visitors will find themselves passing through or on business, but Chicagoans would do well to include it in a close-in Lake County day trip, if for no other reason than to get some good food, perhaps stock up on fireworks, and realize that Chicagoland doesn't stop at the state line!
Top landmarks
•State Street Commercial Historic District — historic district in Indiana, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 244.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 146.3 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 34 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 Hammond, 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 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 86.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 233 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Hammond, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
