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Trip from Kouts, IN to Hammond, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

58m

Distance

40.3 mi

65 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 53m ★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Indiana, United States

Kouts, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a straightforward trip through the Indiana Midwest, the 40.3-mile journey from Kouts to Hammond is a quick, efficient drive. You can expect to spend about 58 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $6, the route is as economical as it is direct. You will navigate a mix of roads including the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, SR 8, and the Borman Expressway. Because the entire route stays within the state of Indiana, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. It is a practical choice for those prioritizing speed and simplicity over a scenic, winding tour.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway 11.4 mi 13m
SR 8 9.1 mi 13m
Borman Expressway 8 mi 10m
US Highway 231 6.7 mi 9m
Pratt Street 1.3 mi 2m
173rd Street 1 mi 2m
Indianapolis Boulevard 0.3 mi <1m
West Casey Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway — 11.4 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kouts, IN and Hammond, IN.

1

Start on SR 49

0.1 mi · 27 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn left onto SR 8

9.1 mi · 13 min · SR 8
3

Turn right onto US 231; SR 2

0.2 mi · 33 sec · West Casey Street
4

Continue on US 231

0.1 mi · 14 sec · West Casey Street
5

Continue on US 231

1.3 mi · 2 min · Pratt Street
6

Continue on US 231

6.5 mi · 9 min · US Highway 231
7

Enter roundabout onto US 231

156 ft · 2 sec · US Highway 231
8

Continue on US 231

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US Highway 231
Use the left lane.
9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 65 North: Chicago Use the left lane.
10

Merge onto I 65

11 mi · 13 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

1.4 mi · 2 min
Exit 259A Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6

8.0 mi · 10 min · Borman Expressway
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 2 Toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard Use the slight left lane.
15

Turn straight onto SR 152

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Indianapolis Boulevard
16

Turn left onto 173rd Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · 173rd Street
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto Columbia Avenue

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Columbia Avenue
18

Arrive at destination

Columbia Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Merrillville, IN, IN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Merrillville, IN

20 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

Lansing, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Merrillville, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Kouts, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 17.4 and 39.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
17.4 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the ramp toward I 65 North: Chicago

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 65 North: Chicago
8
29.1 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago

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 259A Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
8
38.5 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the exit toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis Boulevard

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 2 Toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis...
8
38.7 mi into trip | ~54m in

Keep slight left at fork toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
6
39.2 mi into trip | ~55m in | 173rd Street

Turn left onto 173rd Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.30 one way

$12.60 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $6.92 $13.84
premium $4.89 $7.76 $15.51
diesel $5.61 $8.90 $17.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.1 0 $4.23 $1.93
Efficient EV 10.1 0 $3.53 $1.61
EV Truck/SUV 16.1 0 $5.64 $2.58

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Kouts, IN

Night in Kouts on Saturday

Local time

11:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 26% chance Live forecast

Destination

Hammond, IN

Night in Hammond on Saturday

Local time

11:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

4 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

58m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive features a mixed profile that transitions from local roads to major thoroughfares. Approximately 59% of your journey takes place on highways, providing a blend of steady cruising and localized navigation. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 11.4 miles on the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, which helps keep the pace moving. As you move from the quieter surroundings of Kouts toward the busier environment of Hammond, the character of the road shifts from regional pavement to the more heavily trafficked Borman Expressway. Expect a functional, utilitarian experience that values efficiency as you transition between these distinct Indiana locales.

59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.4 mi on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 17.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 40.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 17.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 29.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 40.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 11.4 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. 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 Hammond, 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 17.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 29.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.5 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hammond, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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