Origin
Merrillville, IN
Late night in Merrillville on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Merrillville, IN to Ainsworth, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
11m
Distance
6.3 mi
10 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 11m
★
6 AM
0h 12m
8 AM
0h 14m
10 AM
0h 13m
12 PM
0h 12m
3 PM
0h 13m
5 PM
0h 14m
8 PM
0h 11m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Merrillville, IN
Choco Kitty
Ainsworth, IN
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
Merrillville, IN to Ainsworth, IN is 6.3 miles and takes about 11 minutes via East 81st Avenue and Broadway, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within Indiana, moving you from one part of the Midwest to another. Expect a local driving experience, characterized by frequent turns rather than open highway cruising. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick errand or as a brief segment connecting to a larger journey, offering minimal travel time and cost.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 81st Avenue | 4 mi | 6m |
| Grand Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Broadway | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Indian Trail | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East 81st Avenue
— 4 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Merrillville, IN and Ainsworth, IN.
1
Start on Indian Trail
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Indian Trail
2
At end of road, turn left onto SR 53
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway
3
Turn left onto US 30
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
East 81st Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto SR 51
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Grand Boulevard
5
Arrive at destination
SR 51
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 5.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 53 / Broadway
At end of road, turn left onto SR 53 / Broadway
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 30 / East 81st Avenue
Turn left onto US 30 / East 81st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
5.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
SR 51 / Grand Boulevard
Turn left onto SR 51 / Grand Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$0.98 one way
$1.97 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.08 | $2.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.21 | $2.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.39 | $2.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 1.9 | 0 | $0.66 | $0.30 |
| Efficient EV | 1.6 | 0 | $0.55 | $0.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.88 | $0.40 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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.
Destination
Ainsworth, IN
Late night in Ainsworth on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
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
17 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
11m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a turn-heavy local drive with 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating city streets for the entire 6.3 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 4 miles along East 81st Avenue. As you proceed, you'll transition from East 81st Avenue onto Grand Boulevard and finally Broadway, each segment requiring your attention for turns and traffic. The driving experience is characterized by frequent adjustments and navigation, typical of local road travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
5 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4 mi on East 81st Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near SR 53 / Broadway.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Merrillville, IN to Ainsworth, IN is easy. At 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (SR 53 / Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 30 / East 81st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (SR 51 / Grand Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
This 6.3-mile drive is a breeze for a same-day round trip, taking only about 11 minutes each way. Perfect for a quick local adventure.
Family Friendly
With a total drive time of just 11 minutes, this route is incredibly short and easy, making it ideal for families with young children. The minimal turns also simplify navigation.
Solo Traveler
At only 11 minutes and 6.3 miles, this route is an incredibly comfortable and quick drive for any solo traveler looking for a short, easy excursion.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
This 6.3-mile trip is a fantastic option for first-time drivers, featuring straightforward navigation on local roads and a very manageable 11-minute duration. You'll barely touch a highway.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4 miles on East 81st Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (SR 53 / Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 30 / East 81st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (SR 51 / Grand Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
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 Ainsworth, 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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