This 166.2-mile drive from Nottingham to Gary, Indiana, is easily achievable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 30 and the Indiana Toll Road, you'll experience a highway-focused journey through the Midwest. With a projected fuel cost of around $26, this route offers a straightforward and efficient way to travel between these two Indiana cities. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 99.3 miles on US 30, so plan for a comfortable, continuous drive. This trip is best suited for those prioritizing direct travel within the state.
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
83.1 miles from Nottingham, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 30
99.3 mi
2h 9m
SR 1
29.4 mi
42m
Indiana Toll Road
15.6 mi
17m
Ardmore Avenue
4.9 mi
7m
Leesburg Road
2.3 mi
4m
Hillegas Road
1.4 mi
2m
Airport Expressway
1 mi
1m
Flaugh Road
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 99.3 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nottingham, IN and Gary, IN.
1
Start on SR 1
29 mi·42 min·SR 1
2
Turn left onto Airport Expressway
1.0 mi·1 min·Airport Expressway
3
Turn right onto Ardmore Avenue
4.9 mi·7 min·Ardmore Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on Hillegas Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Hillegas Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Turn left onto Leesburg Road
2.3 mi·4 min·Leesburg Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto Flaugh Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Flaugh Road
7
Turn left onto US 30
99 mi·2 hr 9 min·US 30
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
9.2 mi·13 min
Toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton
9
Turn left
394 ft·9 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
10
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·18 sec·this road
11
Continue on this road
411 ft·10 sec·this road
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 90 West: ChicagoUse the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 80; I 90
16 mi·17 min·Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 14BToward SR 53: BroadwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto SR 53
0.1 mi·29 sec·Broadway
16
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
0.3 mi·30 sec·West 4th Avenue
17
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.7 mi·2 min·Madison Street
18
Turn right onto 10th Place
0.2 mi·57 sec·10th Place
19
Arrive at destination
10th Place
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 45-minute duration, departing Nottingham in the morning will allow you to reach Gary well before evening. With only one planned stop and a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 99.3-mile stretch on US 30, as finding services might be less frequent during that segment. The $26 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting this straightforward, interstate-heavy journey.
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 83.1 miles from Nottingham, IN, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 37 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.1 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gary, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nottingham, 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 Nottingham, IN
This is one driving day of about 166.2 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Nottingham, 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 US 30 for about 99.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.4 and 164.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
30.4 mi into trip|~43m in|Ardmore Avenue
Turn right onto Ardmore Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
36.7 mi into trip|~53m in|Leesburg Road
Turn left onto Leesburg Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
148.3 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Turn left toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
9
148.6 mi into trip|~3h 22m 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
7
164.5 mi into trip|~3h 40m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.98 one way
$51.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.53
$57.06
premium
$4.89
$31.98
$63.97
diesel
$5.61
$36.69
$73.39
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
Indiana Toll Road
(15.6 mi)$1.09
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
$26
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.2 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
49.9
0
$17.45
$7.98
Efficient EV
41.6
0
$14.54
$6.65
EV Truck/SUV
66.5
0
$23.27
$10.64
Gas CO2
58 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 15, 2026
Origin
Nottingham, IN
Afternoon
in Nottingham on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gary, IN
Morning
in Gary on Sunday
Local time
11:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Warsaw, IN
83 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
7 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
3h 45m 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
$20
near mile 150.3
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 predominantly highway-focused drive, with 78% of the route featuring higher-speed roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on US 30, which presents the longest continuous segment at 99.3 miles, offering a consistent driving experience. While the Indiana Toll Road offers faster travel, the overall character is one of efficient transit rather than winding scenic byways. The route is designed for covering ground, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous detours off the main thoroughfares.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.3 mi on US 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and SR 1. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 30.4 miles in near Ardmore Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 166.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 30.4 miles (Ardmore Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles (Leesburg Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 148.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Nottingham, IN to Gary, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Chesterton along the way.
Chesterton
139.1 mi in|~3h 8m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 166.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.3 miles on US 30. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.09 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.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.4 miles (Ardmore Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles (Leesburg Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 148.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Gary, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
