Origin
Munster, IN
Late night in Munster on Sunday
Local time
2:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Munster, IN to Portage, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
18.3 mi
29 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Munster, IN
Wolfgang Weiser
Portage, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Munster, IN to Portage, IN is 18.3 miles and takes about 30m via Borman Expressway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, traversing the state of Indiana. Expect a mixed drive that's mostly on expressways, making it a straightforward option for a quick transit. Given the minimal distance and time commitment, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion or as a segment of a larger journey. It's a practical choice if you're looking for efficiency and don't need extensive stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Borman Expressway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| Central Avenue | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| Calumet Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Broadmoor Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Monroe Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Borman Expressway
— 10.3 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Munster, IN and Portage, IN.
1
Start on Monroe Avenue
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Monroe Avenue
2
Turn right onto Broadmoor Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Broadmoor Avenue
3
Turn left onto Calumet Avenue
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Calumet Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East, US 41: Detroit
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6; US 41
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Borman Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 12-13
Toward I 65 North: Central Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Detroit, Central Avenue
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 13
Toward Central Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto Central Avenue
4.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Central Avenue
10
Continue on Central Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 12.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Broadmoor Avenue
Turn right onto Broadmoor Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East, US 41: Detroit
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East, US 41:...
7
11.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12-13
Toward I 65 North: Central Avenue
6
11.7 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Detroit, Central Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Detroit...
8
12.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Central Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward Central Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.86 one way
$5.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.14 | $6.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.52 | $7.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.04 | $8.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Portage, IN
Late night in Portage on Sunday
Local time
2:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
1 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
30m 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 drive features a substantial highway share, with 56% of the journey on the Borman Expressway. You'll experience a mixed drive, transitioning between expressway speeds and potentially more localized roads. The longest continuous stretch is 10.3 miles on the Borman Expressway, offering a period of consistent travel. As you progress, the character of the drive might shift slightly from the main expressway onto surface streets as you approach your destination. Keep an eye out for changes in speed limits and traffic patterns.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.3 mi on Borman Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Broadmoor Avenue.
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 18.3 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.1 miles (Broadmoor Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 18.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). 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 10.3 miles on Borman Expressway. 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 Portage, 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 0.1 miles (Broadmoor Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Portage, 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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