If you are planning a trip from Hammond to Pierceton, expect to cover 106.6 miles over a duration of approximately 2 hours and 26 minutes. This journey stays entirely within the Midwest region of Indiana, making it a highly manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize West Morthland Drive, the Borman Expressway, and US Route 30 to navigate between these two points. Budgeting roughly $16 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire distance. Because the drive is relatively short and direct, it serves as a straightforward transit route rather than a multi-day excursion. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the simplicity of this path allows for a stress-free travel experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.3 miles from Hammond, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Morthland Drive
76.9 mi
1h 42m
Borman Expressway
8.2 mi
11m
US Route 30
6.6 mi
9m
East 81st Avenue
5.5 mi
8m
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
5.5 mi
7m
173rd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Southeastern Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
SR 13
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
West Morthland Drive
— 76.9 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hammond, IN and Pierceton, 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
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Detroit
7
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6
8.2 mi·11 min·Borman Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·34 sec
Exit 11Toward I 65 South: IndianapolisUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 65
5.5 mi·7 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 253Toward US 30: Merrillville, Valparaiso, ScherervilleUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
246 ft·8 sec
Toward Valparaiso, Valparaiso UniversityUse the left lane.
13
Turn left onto US 30
5.5 mi·8 min·East 81st Avenue
14
Continue on US 30
6.6 mi·9 min·US Route 30
15
Continue on US 30
77 mi·1 hr 42 min·West Morthland Drive
16
Turn right onto SR 13
0.3 mi·38 sec·SR 13
17
Arrive at destination
SR 13
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 106.6-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to plan for formal stops, as the duration is just under two and a half hours. Keep a close eye on your navigation during the turn-heavy sections of the route to ensure you stay on the correct path through the local road network. Because you are only budgeting $16 for fuel, filling up before you leave Hammond will likely get you all the way to Pierceton without needing to hunt for a gas station along the way. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently.
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 53.3 miles from Hammond, IN, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.9 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 23 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.3 miles or 1h 15m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pierceton, 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 106.6 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Hammond, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on West Morthland Drive for about 76.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 17.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 80; I 94; US 6 / Borman Expressway
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6 / Borman Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
10.1 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
6
10.5 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.8 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward US 30: Merrillville, Valparaiso, Schererville
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 253
Toward US 30: Merrillville, Valparaiso, Scherer...
8
17.2 mi into trip|~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Valparaiso, Valparaiso University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Valparaiso, Valparaiso University
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.67 one way
$33.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.30
$36.60
premium
$4.89
$20.51
$41.03
diesel
$5.61
$23.54
$47.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32
0
$11.19
$5.12
Efficient EV
26.7
0
$9.33
$4.26
EV Truck/SUV
42.6
0
$14.92
$6.82
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Hammond, IN
Late night
in Hammond on Tuesday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pierceton, IN
Late night
in Pierceton on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Valparaiso, IN
53 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
12 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
2h 26m 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.
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$20
near mile 25.7
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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 14% of this route consists of highway driving, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads and intersections. You will tackle a significant 76.9-mile stretch on West Morthland Drive, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. The road personality shifts from the faster pace of the Borman Expressway into more technical segments as you progress toward your destination. Expect a constant rhythm of turns rather than the monotonous cruise of a long-haul interstate trek.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.9 mi on West Morthland Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 2 miles in near I 80; I 94; US 6 / Borman Expressway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 106.6 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 2 miles (I 80; I 94; US 6 / Borman Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hammond, IN and Pierceton, IN, road signs point toward Valparaiso, Schererville and Valparaiso University.
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!
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 106.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.9 miles on West Morthland Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Pierceton, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (I 80; I 94; US 6 / Borman Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pierceton, IN before heading back.
