Hammond, IN to Rushville, IN is 200.9 miles and takes about 4 hours via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and US 52, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, exclusively within Indiana, and is a good option if you're looking for a straightforward trip. It's primarily a surface road experience, so expect a more grounded feel compared to interstate travel. This route is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
100.4 miles from Hammond, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
129.3 mi
2h 20m
East Main Street
18 mi
26m
US 52
14.9 mi
22m
I 465
12.5 mi
14m
I 69
9.3 mi
10m
Borman Expressway
8.2 mi
11m
I 865
5.1 mi
6m
173rd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 129.3 mi, about 2h 20m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 110 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~5,771 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~978 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Rushville, 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
129 mi·2 hr 20 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 865
5.1 mi·6 min·I 865
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 465
13 mi·14 min·I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 69; I 465
9.3 mi·10 min·I 69; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 52
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 52
Exit 47Toward US 52 East: Brookville RoadUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
15 mi·21 min·US 52
Toward New PalestineUse the right lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto US 52
166 ft·2 sec·East Main Street
17
Continue on US 52
18 mi·26 min·East Main Street
18
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·30 sec·West 3rd Street
19
Continue on US 52; SR 44
0.2 mi·19 sec·West 2nd Street
20
Turn left onto North Morgan Street
376 ft·16 sec·North Morgan Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Morgan Street
Trip Plan
Given this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop and a primarily surface road profile, you won't need to break this trip into multiple days. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $32, and plan your fill-ups accordingly, especially before heading into longer stretches. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later or make an unplanned stop if something catches your eye along US 52.
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 100.4 miles from Hammond, IN, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.3 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 44 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.4 miles or 1h 54m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rushville, 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 200.9 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 129.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.1 and 167.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
140.6 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|I 865
Keep slight right at fork onto I 865
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
167.5 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|US 52
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52 East: Brookville Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 47
Toward US 52 East: Brookville Road
7
167.8 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|US 52
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 toward New Palestine
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward New Palestine
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.51 one way
$67.02 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$36.42
$72.85
premium
$5.26
$41.60
$83.19
diesel
$6.18
$48.87
$97.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.3
0
$21.09
$9.64
Efficient EV
50.2
0
$17.58
$8.04
EV Truck/SUV
80.4
1
$28.13
$12.86
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Hammond, IN
Morning
in Hammond on Monday
Local time
8:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
SSW 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rushville, IN
Morning
in Rushville on Monday
Local time
9:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
SSE 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
73°F
Pittsboro, IN
100 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
1 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 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 13.9
Park Closure: Trail Closure - Dunewood Trace
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Little Calumet River 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?
This drive is predominantly on surface roads, with only about 25% of the 200.9 miles on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 129.3 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway before transitioning to other roads like East Main Street and US 52. Expect more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you navigate through towns and local areas. This means you'll likely notice more local traffic and varying speed limits throughout the trip.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.3 mi on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 10.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 200.9 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 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; at 140.6 miles (I 865): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
957 ft599 ft
Total Climb
579 ft
Total Descent
222 ft
Highest Point
957 ft
~200.9 mi in
Elevation Range
357 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hammond, IN to Rushville, IN, road signs begin pointing toward New Palestine along the way.
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. Total distance: 200.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.3 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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 Rushville, 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 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 140.6 miles (I 865): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Rushville, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
