Origin
Nappanee, IN
Morning in Nappanee on Saturday
Local time
7:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nappanee, IN to Hammond, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
86 mi
138 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 54m
★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 9m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 10m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nappanee, IN
cottonbro studio
Hammond, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Nappanee, IN to Hammond, IN covers 86 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Roosevelt Road, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.7 miles on Roosevelt Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43 miles from Nappanee, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt Road | 24.7 mi | 35m |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 22.9 mi | 31m |
| I 80 | 13.6 mi | 19m |
| Indiana Toll Road | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| US 6 | 9 mi | 13m |
| West Market Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| SR 49 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 173rd Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Roosevelt Road
— 24.7 mi, about 35m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 132 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~5,349 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~893 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 48 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 Nappanee, IN and Hammond, IN.
1
Start on SR 19
66 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 6
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Market Street
3
Continue on US 6
23 mi
·
31 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
4
Continue on US 6
25 mi
·
35 min
·
Roosevelt Road
5
Turn slight right onto US 6; US 421
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 6; US 421
6
Turn left onto US 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6
7
Enter roundabout onto US 6
148 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 6
8
Continue on US 6
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
US 6
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward SR 49 North: Chesterton, Dunes State Park
10
Merge onto SR 49
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
SR 49
11
Turn left
394 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
12
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
13
Continue on this road
411 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago
Use the straight lane.
15
Merge onto I 80; I 90
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto I 80
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
Exit 21
Toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 80
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
13 mi
·
17 min
·
I 80
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 2
Toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
Use the slight left lane.
21
Turn straight onto SR 152
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Indianapolis Boulevard
22
Turn left onto 173rd Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
173rd Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Columbia Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Columbia Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Columbia Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43 miles from Nappanee, IN, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.7 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hammond, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nappanee, 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 Nappanee, IN
This is one driving day of about 86 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Nappanee, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Roosevelt Road for about 24.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43 miles from Nappanee, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 60.9 and 84.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
60.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago
8
70.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
I 80
Take the exit onto I 80 toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines
8
71.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East
8
71.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 94 West, I 80 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West
8
84.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.33 one way
$26.67 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $14.62 | $29.24 |
| premium | $4.93 | $16.69 | $33.37 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.96 | $37.91 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.67
Indiana Toll Road
(9.5 mi)
$0.67
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.03 | $4.13 |
| Efficient EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.04 | $5.50 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Hammond, IN
Morning in Hammond on Saturday
Local time
6:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
2h 3m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
$20
near mile 62.3
Caution: Water Safety Alert
Park Closure: Temporary Closure - Douglas Center
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
86 mi in 2h 3m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.7 mi on Roosevelt Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 60.9 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 86 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 60.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.6 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
875 ft
599 ft
Total Climb
213 ft
Total Descent
489 ft
Highest Point
875 ft
Elevation Range
276 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 Nappanee, IN to Hammond, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Dunes State Park along the way.
Dunes State Park
58.7 mi in
|
~1h 24m
About the Cities
Starting in Nappanee, IN
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Stahly-Nissley-Kuhns Farm
Arriving in Hammond, IN
Full guide →Founded 1884
Hammond is a Chicagoland city of some 76,000 people (2019) in Lake County, Indiana—bordering Chicago's Far Southeast Side. Most visitors will find themselves passing through or on business, but Chicagoans would do well to include it in a close-in Lake County day trip, if for no other reason than to get some good food, perhaps stock up on fireworks, and realize that Chicagoland doesn't stop at the state line!
Top landmarks
- • State Street Commercial Historic District — historic district in Indiana, United States
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 2h 3m. Total distance: 86 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.7 miles on Roosevelt Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.67 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.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 60.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.6 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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, 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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