Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
96.8 mi
156 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
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
Lafayette, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Portage, IN to Lafayette, IN is 96.8 miles and takes about 1h 53m via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I 80, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Midwest, traveling entirely within Indiana. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns rather than a straightforward highway cruise. With a total trip time under two hours and minimal fuel costs, this route is ideal for a spontaneous day trip or as a short leg on a longer journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Portage, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway | 83.9 mi | 1h 31m |
| I 80 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Indiana Toll Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Schuyler Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| North 18th Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Willowcreek Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Portage, IN and Lafayette, 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
Take the exit
Turn right onto Schuyler Avenue
Turn left onto North 18th Street
Turn left onto South Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Turn right onto Douglas Street
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 53 minutes, you can depart anytime and complete this drive within a single day. There are no recommended stops indicated, so you have flexibility to pull over as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as stretches may be longer than others; budgeting around $15 for fuel should suffice. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for the transition from the Indiana Toll Road onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, as this is where many of the route's turns will begin.
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.
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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 57m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lafayette, IN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Portage, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Portage, IN
This is one driving day of about 96.8 miles and 1h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 48.4 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 83.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 92.9 — 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 SR 25: Delphi, Lafayette
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$15.13 one way
$30.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.62 | $33.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.63 | $37.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.37 | $42.74 |
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
$15
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29 | 0 | $10.16 | $4.65 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.47 | $3.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.55 | $6.20 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Late night in Portage on Sunday
Local time
2:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Lafayette on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
72°F
Shelby, IN
48 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 is a turn-heavy local drive, with only a 25% highway share, meaning you'll navigate more surface streets and intersections. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 83.9 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, offering a substantial period of consistent travel before you encounter more complex road segments. The route progresses through a mix of local roads and segments of the Indiana Toll Road (I 80), requiring attention to changing speed limits and navigation.
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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Portage, IN and Lafayette, IN, road signs point toward Indianapolis and Chicago.
Indianapolis
Chicago
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 96.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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