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Trip from Plymouth, 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 28m

Distance

65.7 mi

106 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 22m ★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Marshall County, Indiana, United States

Plymouth, IN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Lake County, State of Indiana, United States

Gary, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Plymouth to Gary, you are looking at a straightforward 68.5-mile journey across Northern Indiana. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 19 minutes behind the wheel for this trip, which fits easily into a single day of travel. You will primarily navigate via SR 49 North, I-80, and I-80 West to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $10 for fuel should cover your needs, making this an economical excursion within the Midwest. Since the entire drive stays within the state of Indiana, you won't have to worry about changing time zones or navigating complex regional shifts. It serves as a practical, efficient connection between these two Midwestern locations.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 30 34.6 mi 44m
Indiana Toll Road 15.6 mi 17m
West Lincoln Highway 3.9 mi 6m
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: US 30 — 34.6 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, IN and Gary, IN.

1

Start on West Lincoln Highway

3.9 mi · 6 min · West Lincoln Highway
2

Turn left onto US 30

35 mi · 44 min · US 30
3

Take the exit

9.2 mi · 13 min
Toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton
4

Turn left

394 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
5

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · this road
6

Continue on this road

411 ft · 10 sec · this road
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago Use the straight lane.
8

Merge onto I 80; I 90

16 mi · 17 min · Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Exit 14B Toward SR 53: Broadway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn left onto SR 53

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Broadway
11

Turn right onto US 12; US 20

0.3 mi · 30 sec · West 4th Avenue
12

Turn left onto Madison Street

0.7 mi · 2 min · Madison Street
13

Turn right onto 10th Place

0.2 mi · 57 sec · 10th Place
14

Arrive at destination

10th Place

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Porter County, Indiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Valparaiso, IN

33 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

Koontz Lake, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Westville, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.8 miles from Plymouth, 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 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 38.6 and 63.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
38.6 mi into trip | ~51m in

Take the exit toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Ches...
6
47.8 mi into trip | ~1h 4m 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
48.1 mi into trip | ~1h 5m 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
5
48.3 mi into trip | ~1h 5m 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
63.9 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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

$10.27 one way

$20.54 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.28 $22.56
premium $4.89 $12.64 $25.29
diesel $5.61 $14.51 $29.01

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.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$1

Total

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 23 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.7 0 $6.90 $3.15
Efficient EV 16.4 0 $5.75 $2.63
EV Truck/SUV 26.3 0 $9.20 $4.20

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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

Plymouth, IN

Late night in Plymouth on Sunday

Local time

2:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gary, IN

Late night in Gary on Sunday

Local time

1:03 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

50°F

Valparaiso, IN

33 mi in

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

12 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 28m 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 68.5-mile route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will find that the road demands your full attention as you transition between local roads and the I-80 corridor. Because the highway share is 0%, the experience feels more grounded in the local landscape than a standard freeway haul. Navigating the turns requires a steady hand, so prepare for a drive that feels more engaging and less monotonous than a straight highway shot. The lack of a long, uninterrupted stretch means you will be consistently adjusting your pace as you move through the Indiana countryside.

53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.6 mi on US 30.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 38.6 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 65.7 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 38.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Plymouth, IN to Gary, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Chesterton along the way.

Chesterton

38.6 mi in | ~51m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 65.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34.6 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.

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 38.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Gary, IN to Plymouth, IN

Plan the drive back the other way.

66.1 mi 1h 28m

Explore more options from Plymouth, IN or browse trips ending in Gary, IN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IN road trips.