George Ade Travel Plaza
0 mi from route
Trip from Hammond, IN to Simonton Lake, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 10, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
88.6 mi
143 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hammond, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Simonton Lake, IN
Tommes Frites
Trip Overview
Hammond, IN to Simonton Lake, IN is 88.6 miles and takes about 1h 46m via Indiana Toll Road, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, offering a straightforward drive entirely within Indiana. While it's a relatively short distance, the route is primarily surface roads with a brief highway stretch. It's a convenient option for a quick local excursion or an easy segment of a larger Midwest adventure. Given the short duration, you won't need to plan for overnight stays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.3 miles from Hammond, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 70.6 mi | 1h 17m |
| Borman Expressway | 12.6 mi | 17m |
| Cassopolis Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| I 80 | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| 173rd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Southeastern Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Indianapolis Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Columbia Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Indiana Toll Road
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 17m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 132 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~5,349 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~893 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
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 Simonton Lake, 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
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Borman Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 80
Exit 16
Toward I 80 East, I 90
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 80
Toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll Road East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 80; I 90
71 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 92
Toward SR 19: Elkhart
12
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
this road
13
Turn right onto SR 19
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Cassopolis Street
14
Arrive at destination
SR 19
Trip Plan
For this 88.6-mile drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to take advantage of daylight and minimize traffic. Since the total travel time is under two hours, you likely won't need to stop for extended breaks, but having a full tank before you leave Hammond is a good idea, especially with an estimated fuel cost of $14. Pay attention as you transition from the Indiana Toll Road to surface roads around the 70-mile mark, as this is where you'll encounter more local traffic and varying speed limits. This short distance offers flexibility, so you can depart whenever it's most convenient.
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 44.3 miles from Hammond, IN, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.3 miles or 56m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Simonton Lake, 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 88.6 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Hammond, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Indiana Toll Road for about 70.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.3 miles from Hammond, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Indiana Toll Road if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
William Shaw Travel Plaza WB
0 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
J.T. McCutcheon Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Knute Rockne Travel Plaza EB
0.1 mi from route
George N. Craig Travel Plaza EB
0.1 mi from route
Henry F. Schricker Travel Plaza WB
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area Trucks Only
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Mr. Fuel Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Mr. Fuel Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
1.8 mi from route
TA
2.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 86.3 — 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.
8
14.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 80
Take the exit onto I 80 toward I 80 East, I 90
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 16
Toward I 80 East, I 90
8
15.4 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll...
5
15.7 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 80; I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge onto I 80; I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
86.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward SR 19: Elkhart
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward SR 19: Elkhart
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.91 one way
$27.81 round trip
$3.99/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.39 | $15.31 | $30.61 |
| premium | $5.00 | $17.45 | $34.90 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $20.81 | $41.63 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.94
Indiana Toll Road
(70.6 mi)
$4.94
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.30 | $4.25 |
| Efficient EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.75 | $3.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.40 | $5.67 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Origin
Hammond, IN
Night in Hammond on Wednesday
Local time
9:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 5 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Simonton Lake, IN
Night in Simonton Lake on Wednesday
Local time
10:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
77°F
Smith, IN
44 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
8 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 46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$20
near mile 24.4
Park Closure: Partial Trail Closure - Dunewood Trace
Park Closure: Closure - Hobart Woodland Trail
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, making up 84% of the total distance. You'll experience about 70.6 miles on the Indiana Toll Road before transitioning to surface streets like Cassopolis Street. Expect a mix of highway cruising and local road driving, with a noticeable increase in exits and intersections as you get closer to Simonton Lake. The highway segment offers a chance for faster travel before you navigate more local traffic.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.6 mi on Indiana Toll Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near I 80; I 94; US 6 / Borman Expressway.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 14.6 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
865 ft
597 ft
Total Climb
308 ft
Total Descent
122 ft
Highest Point
865 ft
~38 mi in
Elevation Range
268 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Simonton Lake, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana Toll Road East along the way.
Indiana Toll Road East
15.4 mi in
|
~24m
|
via I 80
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 Simonton Lake, 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 1h 46m. Total distance: 88.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.6 miles on Indiana Toll Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.94 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 22 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 Simonton Lake, 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 14.6 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Simonton Lake, IN before heading back.
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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