If you are looking to travel from Hammond to Plymouth, Indiana, expect a straightforward 72-mile journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 41 minutes. This route is best suited for a quick day trip, as it covers a manageable distance that does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via local roads like 173rd Street, Southeastern Avenue, and 175th Street rather than major interstates. Budgeting around $11 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for the duration of the trip. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the transition between them is seamless and keeps you within familiar terrain throughout the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36 miles from Hammond, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Morthland Drive
38.7 mi
51m
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
Lincoln Highway
3.7 mi
6m
173rd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Southeastern Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
West Morthland Drive
— 38.7 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hammond, IN and Plymouth, 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
39 mi·51 min·West Morthland Drive
16
Turn right onto Queen Road
350 ft·6 sec·Queen Road
17
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·13 sec·this road
18
Continue on Lincoln Highway
3.7 mi·6 min·Lincoln Highway
19
Arrive at destination
West Lincoln Highway
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 72-mile trip with no planned stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Because the route relies entirely on local streets, it is wise to keep an eye on real-time traffic updates to avoid potential congestion on 173rd Street or Southeastern Avenue. With a modest fuel cost of $11, you won't need to worry about complex refueling logistics, but it is still a good practice to start with a full tank to avoid any unnecessary detours. Take advantage of the lack of mandatory stops by keeping your cabin organized, as you will be spending the full 1 hour and 41 minutes in the driver's seat. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your GPS directions before heading out to ensure you stay on track through the various local road transitions.
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 36 miles from Hammond, IN, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.7 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36 miles or 52m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plymouth, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hammond, IN
This is one driving day of about 72 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 38.7 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
$11.26 one way
$22.51 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.36
$24.72
premium
$4.89
$13.86
$27.71
diesel
$5.61
$15.90
$31.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.6
0
$7.56
$3.46
Efficient EV
18
0
$6.30
$2.88
EV Truck/SUV
28.8
0
$10.08
$4.61
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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 16, 2026
Origin
Hammond, IN
Night
in Hammond on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Plymouth, IN
Late night
in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Valparaiso, IN
36 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
16 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 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way across northern Indiana. Because the route features zero percent highway share, you will spend the entire 1 hour and 41 minutes navigating surface streets rather than cruising at high speeds. This creates a personality defined by constant movement and attention to local traffic patterns, rather than the monotonous rhythm of a long interstate stretch. While the drive is relatively short at 72 miles, the reliance on local roads means you should be prepared for a more active experience behind the wheel. Stay focused on the navigation, as the shift from Hammond's urban environment to the local roads leading toward Plymouth requires consistent engagement.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.7 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 72 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 Plymouth, IN, road signs point toward Valparaiso, Schererville and Valparaiso University.
Valparaiso
16.8 mi in|~25m
Schererville
16.8 mi in|~25m
Valparaiso University
17.2 mi in|~26m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 72 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.7 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 Plymouth, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Plymouth, IN before heading back.
