This 273.4-mile drive from Hammond, Indiana to Boonville, Indiana is a solid option for a single-day road trip, estimated to take just under 6 hours to complete. Traveling primarily through the Midwest region of Indiana, you'll find a straightforward journey with a fuel cost estimated around $43. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, making it an efficient way to cover the distance. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a day, but consider an early start to maximize your daylight hours.
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
136.7 miles from Hammond, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 41
118.8 mi
2h 30m
SR 63
63.4 mi
1h 20m
Wicker Avenue
58.8 mi
1h 18m
I 64
14 mi
15m
State Road 61
9.5 mi
14m
Indianapolis Boulevard
6.2 mi
13m
North 3rd Street
0.7 mi
1m
173rd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 41
— 118.8 mi, about 2h 30m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~759 veh/hr typical
· worst 974
Quietest
1 AM
~88 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 46 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 Hammond, IN and Boonville, IN.
1
Start on Columbia Avenue
0.2 mi·30 sec·Columbia Avenue
2
Turn left onto 173rd Street
0.6 mi·1 min·173rd Street
3
Turn right onto Southeastern Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·Southeastern Avenue
4
Turn left onto 175th Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·175th Street
5
Turn right onto SR 152
0.3 mi·22 sec·Indianapolis Boulevard
6
Continue on SR 152
5.9 mi·12 min·Indianapolis Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 41
59 mi·1 hr 18 min·Wicker Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
22 mi·26 min·US 41
9
Continue on SR 63
63 mi·1 hr 20 min·SR 63
10
Continue on US 41
58 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 41
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 41; US 150
0.2 mi·28 sec·US 41; US 150
12
Merge onto US 41; US 50; US 150
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; US 50; US 150
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 41
38 mi·45 min·US 41
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward I 64 East
15
Merge onto I 64
14 mi·15 min·I 64
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 39Toward SR 61: Lynnville, Boonville
17
Keep slight right at fork
158 ft·3 sec
18
Turn slight right onto SR 61
7.3 mi·10 min·State Road 61
19
Enter roundabout onto SR 61
248 ft·5 sec·State Road 61
20
Continue on SR 61
2.2 mi·3 min·State Road 61
21
Continue on SR 61
0.7 mi·1 min·North 3rd Street
22
Turn right onto SR 61; SR 62
347 ft·13 sec·West Main Street
23
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
346 ft·14 sec·South 2nd Street
24
Turn left onto SR 61; SR 62
347 ft·13 sec·West Locust Street
25
Turn left onto SR 61
61 ft·1 sec·South 3rd Street
26
Arrive at destination
SR 61
Trip Plan
For this 273.4-mile trip, departing Hammond, IN early in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Boonville, IN with ample time. Since the drive is under 6 hours and involves minimal stops, you have a lot of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 118.8-mile stretch on US 41, as services might be less frequent. Budgeting around $43 for fuel should cover your needs for this Indiana-to-Indiana journey.
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 136.7 miles from Hammond, IN, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.8 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 60 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.7 miles or 3h 4m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boonville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hammond, 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 Hammond, IN
This is one driving day of about 273.4 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Hammond, 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 US 41 for about 118.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 262.7 and 273.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
262.7 mi into trip|~5h 42m in
Take the exit toward SR 61: Lynnville, Boonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 39
Toward SR 61: Lynnville, Boonville
6
270.3 mi into trip|~5h 54m in|SR 61 / State Road 61
Enter roundabout onto SR 61 / State Road 61
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
273.3 mi into trip|~5h 59m in|South 2nd Street
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
273.4 mi into trip|~5h 59m in|SR 61; SR 62 / West Locust Street
Turn left onto SR 61; SR 62 / West Locust Street
Navigation decision point
5
273.4 mi into trip|~5h 59m in|SR 61 / South 3rd Street
Turn left onto SR 61 / South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.37 one way
$80.75 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.57
$89.15
premium
$4.72
$50.76
$101.52
diesel
$4.80
$51.62
$103.25
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: 95.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82
1
$28.71
$13.12
Efficient EV
68.4
0
$23.92
$10.94
EV Truck/SUV
109.4
1
$38.28
$17.50
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Hammond, IN
Late night
in Hammond on Sunday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 10 mph18% chanceLive forecast
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
Boonville, IN
Late night
in Boonville on Sunday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 3 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 10:41PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
85°F
Fairview Park, IN
137 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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
5h 59m 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.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 207.4
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 273.4
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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this 5-hour, 59-minute journey. With 72% of the route on highways, you'll experience mostly efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 118.8 miles on US 41, offering a good opportunity to settle in. While the primary roads are US 41 and SR 63, Wicker Avenue also plays a part. The character is largely about covering ground efficiently, with the feel of a steady, predictable drive.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.8 mi on US 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 41 and SR 63. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 262.7 miles in.
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 17 significant decision points across 273.4 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 262.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 270.3 miles (SR 61 / State Road 61): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 273.3 miles (South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point.
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 5h 59m. Total distance: 273.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.8 miles on US 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Boonville, 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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 262.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 270.3 miles (SR 61 / State Road 61): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 273.3 miles (South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Boonville, IN before the return drive.
