Sonic Drive-In
Around the midpoint, short detour
Lafayette, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–1 pm
+17654477700
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 36m
Distance
190.6 mi
307 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portage, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Daleville, IN
Tom Fisk
Portage, IN to Daleville, IN is 190.6 miles and takes about 3h 36m via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I 69, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This all-Indiana trip stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward drive. With just one recommended stop and most of the route on surface roads, it's a manageable option for a single day. Expect a mostly local feel rather than an interstate cruise.
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
95.3 miles from Portage, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway | 130 mi | 2h 21m |
| I 69 | 32 mi | 35m |
| I 465 | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| I 865 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| I 80 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Indiana Toll Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Binford Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Willowcreek Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 42 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,632 veh/hr typical · worst 2,183
Quietest
2 AM
~275 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Portage, IN and Daleville, IN.
Start on Central Avenue
Turn right onto Willowcreek Road
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 80; I 90
Take the exit onto I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 65
Keep slight right at fork onto I 865
Merge onto I 465
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto Binford Boulevard
Merge onto I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
Take the exit onto SR 67
Turn right onto SR 67
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
Turn left
Turn right
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given the 3h 36m estimated drive time, leaving Portage, IN in the morning allows ample time to reach Daleville, IN before evening. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility in where and when you choose to break up the 190.6 miles. The fuel cost is estimated at $30, so keep an eye on your gauge, especially before heading onto the longer surface road sections. Pay attention to local speed limits on the surface roads, as they will vary more than on the interstate portions.
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.
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 42 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.3 miles or 1h 47m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Daleville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Portage, 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 Portage, IN
This is one driving day of about 190.6 miles and 3h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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.
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 95.3 miles from Portage, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · around the midpoint
Lafayette, Indiana
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 7 am–1 pm
+17654477700
Catello’s Italian Art Cuisine
Pendleton, Indiana
Food King Chinese Restaurant
Indianapolis, Indiana
Best coffee break · around the midpoint
Lafayette, Indiana
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hours: 5:30 am–2 pm
+17654481557
Falls Perk Coffee House
Pendleton, Indiana
The Region Cat Cafe
Merrillville, Indiana
Around the midpoint, short detour
Lafayette, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–1 pm
+17654477700
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Pendleton, Indiana
Hours: 11:30 am–2 pm
+17652219052
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Indianapolis, Indiana
Hours: 10:15 am–9 pm
+13178431066
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Indianapolis, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm
+13176692057
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Indianapolis, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+13179855091
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Pendleton, Indiana
Hours: 8 am–2:30 pm
+17652219470
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Whitestown, Indiana
Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm
+13179730430
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Merrillville, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–12 pm
+12195001370
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Lafayette, Indiana
Hours: 5:30 am–2 pm
+17654481557
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Pendleton, Indiana
Hours: 6 am–7 pm
+17657783423
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Merrillville, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–7 pm
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Lafayette, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+17654771873
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Whitestown, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+13177697503
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Carmel, Indiana
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+13175644149
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Merrillville, Indiana
Hours: 10 am–7:30 pm
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Lafayette, Indiana
Hours: 5:30 am–2 pm
+17658383334
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Lafayette, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm
+17657427337
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 154.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
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
Take the exit toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Binford Boulevard, Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$31.69 one way
$63.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $34.52 | $69.04 |
| premium | $5.18 | $38.89 | $77.79 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $40.15 | $80.29 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.18
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
$32
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.2 | 0 | $20.01 | $9.15 |
| Efficient EV | 47.7 | 0 | $16.68 | $7.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.2 | 0 | $26.68 | $12.20 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Portage on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 20 at 8:37PM EDT until May 21 at 9:30PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 20 at 8:07PM EDT until May 22 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Evening in Daleville on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 20 at 8:37PM EDT until May 21 at 9:30PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 20 at 8:07PM EDT until May 22 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
85°F
Pike, IN
95 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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route features a highway share of 27%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch on a single highway is 130 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. After that, you'll transition to I 69 and I 465, which will likely involve more frequent exits and merges as you pass through or near urban areas.
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 4 miles in near I 80.
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 24 significant decision points across 190.6 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 4 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
504 ft
Total Descent
230 ft
Highest Point
942 ft
~136.1 mi in
Elevation Range
306 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Portage, IN to Daleville, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Indianapolis along the way.
Indianapolis
Founded 1967
Portage is a town in Northwestern Indiana. It's industrialized, but not quite as heavily as Gary to the west.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 190.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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