Origin
Mishawaka, IN
Night in Mishawaka on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mishawaka, IN to Gary, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
76.2 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mishawaka, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Gary, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Mishawaka to Gary is 76.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via Indiana Toll Road, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Indiana. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns, rather than a high-speed highway experience. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, offering a straightforward connection between these two Indiana locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 67.8 mi | 1h 13m |
| Capital Avenue | 5 mi | 7m |
| Lincoln Way East | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Madison Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| West 4th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 10th Place | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Broadway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Indiana Toll Road
— 67.8 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mishawaka, IN and Gary, IN.
1
Start on SR 933
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Way East
2
Turn left onto SR 331
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Capital Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the exit
522 ft
·
12 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
4
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
this road
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
6
Merge onto I 80; I 90
68 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 14B
Toward SR 53: Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto SR 53
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Broadway
9
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
10
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Street
11
Turn right onto 10th Place
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
10th Place
12
Arrive at destination
10th Place
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.1 miles from Mishawaka, 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 67.8 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 6.1 and 74.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
5
6.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
6.6 mi into trip
|
~10m 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.
7
74.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward SR 53: Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14B
Toward SR 53: Broadway
5
74.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
US 12; US 20 / West 4th Avenue
Turn right onto US 12; US 20 / West 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.91 one way
$23.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.08 | $26.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.66 | $29.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.82 | $33.65 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.75
Indiana Toll Road
(67.8 mi)
$4.75
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$5
Total
$17
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.00 | $3.66 |
| Efficient EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.67 | $3.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.67 | $4.88 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Gary, IN
Night in Gary on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
13 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
1h 29m 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 primarily a turn-heavy local drive, with only a small portion on highways. You'll find yourself navigating through various local roads like Capital Avenue and Lincoln Way East, interspersed with a significant stretch on the Indiana Toll Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 67.8 miles on the Indiana Toll Road, offering a brief period of consistent speed before you transition back to more varied local roads. The overall character is one of frequent changes in direction and speed, requiring your attention throughout the journey.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.8 mi on Indiana Toll Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 76.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.6 miles (I 80; I 90 / Indiana Toll Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 76.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.8 miles on Indiana Toll Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.75 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. 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 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.6 miles (I 80; I 90 / Indiana Toll Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Gary, 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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