Origin
Hammond, IN
Late night in Hammond on Friday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hammond, IN to Scipio, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 2m
Distance
259.4 mi
418 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 49m
★
6 AM
5h 3m
8 AM
5h 30m
10 AM
5h 12m
12 PM
5h 10m
3 PM
5h 14m
5 PM
5h 28m
8 PM
4h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hammond, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Scipio, IN
Anton Ivanov
Trip Overview
Hammond, IN to Scipio, IN is 259.4 miles and takes about 5h 2m via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and US 421, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's a single-day drive that offers a mix of highway cruising and surface road travel. Plan for a relatively straightforward trip that doesn't require an overnight stay, making it ideal for a quick getaway or efficient 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
129.7 miles from Hammond, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway | 129.3 mi | 2h 20m |
| US 421 | 80 mi | 1h 26m |
| I 465 | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| I 69 | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| Borman Expressway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| I 865 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| California Road | 4.9 mi | 11m |
| Carolina Trace Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Scipio, 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 11
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Use 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
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 69; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 421
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 421
Exit 49
Toward I 74 East, US 421 South: Cincinnati, Southeastern Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
80 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
·
US 421
Toward I 74 East, US 421 South: Cincinnati
Use the slight left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 1
Toward New Haven Road, Harrison
17
Turn left onto New Haven Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
New Haven Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Carolina Trace Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Carolina Trace Road
Use the left lane.
19
At end of road, turn right onto New Biddinger Road
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
New Biddinger Road
20
Continue on California Road
4.9 mi
·
11 min
·
California Road
21
Turn left onto SR 126
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Cincinnati Brookville Road
22
Arrive at destination
SR 252
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, leaving Hammond, IN in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Scipio, IN with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $41, this is a manageable drive for a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move from highway sections to surface roads where stations might be less frequent. The longest stretch is over 129 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, so ensure you're comfortable with that segment before departing.
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 129.7 miles from Hammond, IN, or about 2h 26m 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 57 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.7 miles or 2h 26m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scipio, 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 259.4 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
130 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129.7 miles from Hammond, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 10.1 and 168.8 — 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.
8
168.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 11m in
|
US 421
Take the exit onto US 421 toward I 74 East, US 421 South: Cincinnati, Southeastern Avenue
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 49
Toward I 74 East, US 421 South: Cincinnati, Sou...
8
168.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 11m in
|
US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421 toward I 74 East, US 421 South: Cincinnati
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 74 East, US 421 South: Cincinnati
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.22 one way
$80.43 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
91 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $44.10 | $88.20 |
| premium | $4.93 | $50.33 | $100.66 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $57.18 | $114.36 |
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: 90.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.8 | 0 | $27.24 | $12.45 |
| Efficient EV | 64.9 | 0 | $22.70 | $10.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.8 | 1 | $36.32 | $16.60 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Scipio, IN
Morning in Scipio on Friday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
90°F
Beech Grove, IN
130 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
2 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
5h 2m 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
~34 min detour
$20
near mile 8.9
Caution: Water Safety Alert
Park Closure: Temporary Closure - Douglas Center
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 259.4 miles with 45% on highways. You'll experience 129.3 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a mix of highway speeds and slower surface roads. The significant portion on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway suggests a substantial stretch of consistent driving before potentially encountering more varied traffic patterns.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort
10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 259.4 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 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
981 ft
547 ft
Total Climb
787 ft
Total Descent
542 ft
Highest Point
981 ft
~222.4 mi in
Elevation Range
434 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Hammond, IN
Full guide →Founded 1884
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
Arriving in Scipio, IN
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 2m. Total distance: 259.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Scipio, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scipio, IN before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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