Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Jeffersonville, IN to Chesterton, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 10m
Distance
273.6 mi
440 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 57m
★
6 AM
5h 11m
8 AM
5h 38m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 18m
3 PM
5h 22m
5 PM
5h 36m
8 PM
5h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jeffersonville, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Chesterton, IN
Joaquin Carfagna
Trip Overview
Jeffersonville, IN to Chesterton, IN is 273.6 miles and takes about 5h 10m via I 65 and US 20, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, connecting two points in the Midwest region. For the most part, you'll be on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss. You can expect to cover significant ground efficiently.
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
136.8 miles from Jeffersonville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 258.3 mi | 4h 46m |
| Borman Expressway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| US 20 | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Beam Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Broadway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Court Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 52 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 258.3 mi, about 4h 46m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 120 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,947 veh/hr typical · worst 3,538
Quietest
1 AM
~328 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Jeffersonville, IN and Chesterton, IN.
1
Start on Watt Street
257 ft
·
13 sec
·
Watt Street
2
Turn right onto East Court Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Court Avenue
3
Turn slight right onto 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
6th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
5
Merge onto I 65
111 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 65
30 mi
·
35 min
·
I 65
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 52
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 52
Exit 141
Toward US 52 West
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
9
Merge onto I 65
118 mi
·
2 hr 8 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 259B
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
12
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Borman Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 22B
Toward US 20 East: Porter
Use the right lane.
14
Turn straight onto US 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 20
15
Turn right onto West Beam Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Beam Street
16
Turn right onto Wagner Road
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Wagner Road
17
Continue on North Jackson Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Jackson Boulevard
18
Turn left onto Broadway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
19
Turn right onto South 9th Street
378 ft
·
16 sec
·
South 9th Street
20
Arrive at destination
South 9th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 10m estimated drive time, leaving Jeffersonville in the morning allows you to reach Chesterton by afternoon. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 250 miles on I 65, so plan your first fuel stop before you hit that segment, perhaps around the 100-mile mark. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short overall duration, you have the flexibility to take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the end of I 65, as services might become less frequent on US 20.
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 136.8 miles from Jeffersonville, IN, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 258.3 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 60 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.8 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesterton, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jeffersonville, 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 Jeffersonville, IN
This is one driving day of about 273.6 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Jeffersonville, 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 I 65 for about 258.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.8 miles from Jeffersonville, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 258.3 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.
I-65 Rest Stop (northbound)
0.1 mi from route
I-65 Rest Stop (southbound)
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Lebanon Rest Area - I65 SB
0.1 mi from route
Wolcott Rest Area - I-65 NB
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's
0.2 mi from route
Wolcott Rest Area - I-65 SB
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
J.T. McCutcheon Travel Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Mr. Fuel Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
George Ade Travel Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Horner Industrial Group
0.5 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
2.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 270.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
111.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
|
I 65
Keep slight right at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
259.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
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 259B
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo,...
6
260.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo,...
7
270.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Porter
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 22B
Toward US 20 East: Porter
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.49 one way
$90.98 round trip
$4.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $49.55 | $99.10 |
| premium | $5.18 | $55.83 | $111.66 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $57.63 | $115.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.1 | 1 | $28.73 | $13.13 |
| Efficient EV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.94 | $10.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.4 | 1 | $38.30 | $17.51 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Jeffersonville, IN
Afternoon in Jeffersonville on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 1 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 2 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 3 at 12:48PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Chesterton, IN
Afternoon in Chesterton on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Rain Showers
NNE 5 mph
23% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 2 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 3 at 12:48PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
5h 10m 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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
$20
near mile 273.6
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park Closure: Mount Baldy Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 98% of the route using them. You'll experience a long stretch of 258.3 miles on I 65. After that, you'll transition to surface roads, mainly US 20, for the final portion of your trip. Expect a high number of exits and merges as you navigate through various Indiana landscapes.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 258.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Borman Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near I 65.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 273.6 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 0.9 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.9 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 259.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
952 ft
444 ft
Total Climb
825 ft
Total Descent
630 ft
Highest Point
952 ft
~136.8 mi in
Elevation Range
508 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 Jeffersonville, IN to Chesterton, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.
Detroit
259.6 mi in
|
~4h 49m
About the Cities
Starting in Jeffersonville, IN
Full guide →“Jeff”
Jeffersonville, often called "Jeff" by locals, is the county seat of Clark County in Southern Indiana, on the opposite side of the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky and connected to Louisville by the Kennedy, Lincoln, and Lewis and Clark Bridges. It has a population of 48,000 (2019).
Top landmarks
- • George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge — crossing of the Ohio River between Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Ind...
- • Spring Street Freight House — constructed in 1925
Arriving in Chesterton, IN
Full guide →Founded 1899
Chesterton is a small town in Northwestern Indiana, home to the headquarters of the South Shore Railroad.
Top landmarks
- • Read Dunes House — historic house in Indiana, United States
- • Chesterton Residential Historic District — historic district in Indiana, United States
- • Norris and Harriet Coambs Lustron House — Lustron house in Chesterton, Indiana
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 10m. Total distance: 273.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 258.3 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 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 Chesterton, 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 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.9 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 259.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Chesterton, 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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