This 162.2-mile journey from New Chicago, IN, to Greenwood, IN, is a straightforward, single-day trip taking about 3 hours and 6 minutes. Primarily utilizing Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I-465, you'll experience a drive with a 14% highway share. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, this route is budget-friendly for a day excursion. The Midwest scenery provides a consistent backdrop throughout your travel within Indiana. It's designed for a single day, with one recommended stop, making it an accessible option for most travelers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.1 miles from New Chicago, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
128.7 mi
2h 19m
I 465
17 mi
19m
South East Street
6.3 mi
10m
I 65
5.9 mi
6m
West 37th Avenue
1.9 mi
4m
Michigan Street
0.5 mi
1m
Main Street West
0.5 mi
<1m
Ridge Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 128.7 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Chicago, IN and Greenwood, IN.
1
Start on Michigan Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Michigan Street
2
Turn right onto US 6 Business
1.9 mi·4 min·West 37th Avenue
3
Continue on US 6 Business
414 ft·15 sec·Ridge Road
4
Turn left
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 65 South
5
Merge onto I 65
129 mi·2 hr 19 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
5.9 mi·6 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
8
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
9
Merge onto I 465
17 mi·19 min·I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 2BToward US 31 South: East StreetUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto US 31
6.3 mi·10 min·South East Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Main Street West
0.5 mi·54 sec·Main Street West
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
Main Street West
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, departing New Chicago in the morning is ideal to arrive in Greenwood with ample daylight. Plan for one stop to break up the 162.2 miles, perhaps midway through the longest stretch on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto I-465, as the fuel cost is estimated at $25 for the entire trip. Since this is a manageable day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic conditions. Pay attention to local road signage as you transition between Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I-465.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81.1 miles from New Chicago, IN, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.7 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 36 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.1 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenwood, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Chicago, 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 New Chicago, IN
This is one driving day of about 162.2 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from New Chicago, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 128.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 155.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.5 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward I 65 South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 65 South
5
2.8 mi into trip|~6m in|I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
131.5 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
137.4 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 465 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 123
Toward I 465 South
7
155.2 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 31 South: East Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2B
Toward US 31 South: East Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.36 one way
$50.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.84
$55.68
premium
$4.89
$31.21
$62.43
diesel
$5.61
$35.81
$71.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.7
0
$17.03
$7.79
Efficient EV
40.6
0
$14.19
$6.49
EV Truck/SUV
64.9
0
$22.71
$10.38
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
New Chicago, IN
Morning
in New Chicago on Sunday
Local time
6:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Greenwood, IN
Morning
in Greenwood on Sunday
Local time
7:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 13 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:37PM EDT until April 17 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 6:31PM CDT until April 15 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
52°F
Mulberry, IN
81 mi in
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
3 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
3h 6m 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.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
$20
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this 162.2-mile route. While only 14% of the journey is on major highways, you'll encounter a substantial 128.7-mile stretch on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. This suggests a significant portion of your drive will involve navigating local roads and intersections, offering a more grounded perspective of the towns you pass through rather than a high-speed interstate experience. The road character will likely shift from more rural or suburban stretches to busier urban approaches as you near your destination.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.7 mi on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 162.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.5 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
949 ft631 ft
Total Climb
603 ft
Total Descent
430 ft
Highest Point
949 ft
~127.5 mi in
Elevation Range
318 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 162.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 128.7 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Greenwood, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.5 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Greenwood, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
