Origin
Portage, IN
Morning in Portage on Saturday
Local time
6:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portage, IN to Wakarusa, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
74.3 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portage, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Wakarusa, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Portage, IN to Wakarusa, IN covers 74.3 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, Saint Joseph Valley Parkway, SR 2 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.3 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.1 miles from Portage, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 20.3 mi | 21m |
| Saint Joseph Valley Parkway | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| SR 2 | 12.5 mi | 16m |
| US 20 | 11.7 mi | 16m |
| South Nappanee Street | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| Crisman Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Waterford Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Willowcreek Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 20.3 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portage, IN and Wakarusa, IN.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto Willowcreek Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Willowcreek Road
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on Crisman Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Crisman Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
5
Merge onto I 94
20 mi
·
21 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward US 20 East, US 35 South: La Porte, South Bend
7
Merge onto US 20
12 mi
·
16 min
·
US 20
8
Continue on SR 2
12 mi
·
16 min
·
SR 2
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 20 East, US 31 South: Mishawaka, Plymouth
10
Merge onto US 20; US 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward SR 19 South: Wakarusa, Nappanee
12
Turn straight onto SR 19
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
South Nappanee Street
13
Turn right onto CR 40
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Waterford Street
14
Arrive at destination
CR 40
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.1 miles from Portage, IN, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.3 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 16 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.1 miles or 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 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wakarusa, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 74.3 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Portage, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 20.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.1 miles from Portage, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 66.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Willowcreek Road
Turn right onto Willowcreek Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
23 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East, US 35 South: La Porte, South Bend
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 East, US 35 South: La Porte, South...
5
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward US 20 East, US 31 South: Mishawaka, Plymouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 East, US 31 South: Mishawaka, Plym...
5
66.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward SR 19 South: Wakarusa, Nappanee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 19 South: Wakarusa, Nappanee
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.52 one way
$23.04 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $12.63 | $25.26 |
| premium | $4.93 | $14.42 | $28.83 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $16.38 | $32.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.80 | $3.57 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.40 | $4.76 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Wakarusa, IN
Morning in Wakarusa on Saturday
Local time
7:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Smith, IN
37 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 34m 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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
$20
near mile 7.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
74.3 mi in 1h 34m, mostly highway — 20.3 mi of that is on I 94.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Saint Joseph Valley Parkway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Willowcreek Road.
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 74.3 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 0.4 miles (Willowcreek Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
844 ft
636 ft
Total Climb
345 ft
Total Descent
137 ft
Highest Point
844 ft
~74.3 mi in
Elevation Range
208 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Portage, IN and Wakarusa, IN, road signs point toward Bend, Plymouth and Nappanee.
Bend
23 mi in
|
~27m
Plymouth
47.5 mi in
|
~1h
Nappanee
66.5 mi in
|
~1h 23m
About the Cities
Starting in Portage, IN
Full guide →Founded 1967
Portage is a town in Northwestern Indiana. It's industrialized, but not quite as heavily as Gary to the west.
Arriving in Wakarusa, IN
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 74.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.3 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.4 miles (Willowcreek Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wakarusa, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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