This 188-mile drive from Stockton, Indiana, to the City of Gary, Indiana, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 16 minutes on the road, making it a manageable excursion. The route primarily utilizes major highways, covering 76% of the journey on roads like I-65 and SR-59. With an estimated fuel cost of $29, this trip is budget-friendly. You'll traverse the Midwest region, staying within Indiana for the entire journey. This highway-focused drive is ideal for those seeking an efficient way to get from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
94 miles from Stockton, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
83.7 mi
1h 32m
SR 59
44.2 mi
1h 5m
SR 47
13.2 mi
19m
South Washington Street
11.7 mi
17m
Base Line Road
11.1 mi
16m
South River Road
6.6 mi
11m
Base Line Rd
4 mi
5m
State Road 157
4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 83.7 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stockton, IN and City of Gary, IN.
1
Start on Dalton Road
0.1 mi·29 sec·Dalton Road
2
Turn right onto Stockton Road
1.3 mi·5 min·Stockton Road
3
Turn left onto Beech Church Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·Beech Church Road
4
Turn sharp right onto SR 157
4.0 mi·7 min·State Road 157
5
Turn left onto SR 157
1.8 mi·3 min·SR 157
6
Turn right onto SR 157
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fair Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto SR 157
0.3 mi·36 sec·East 9th Street
8
Turn right onto SR 157
1.6 mi·2 min·Main Street
9
Continue on SR 59
39 mi·57 min·SR 59
10
At end of road, turn right onto SR 59; SR 236
2.6 mi·3 min·SR 59; SR 236
11
Turn left onto SR 59
2.7 mi·4 min·SR 59
12
Turn left onto SR 59
0.4 mi·32 sec·Cross Street
13
Turn right onto SR 47
13 mi·19 min·SR 47
14
Turn left onto US 231; SR 32; SR 47
12 mi·17 min·South Washington Street
15
Continue on US 231
449 ft·7 sec·Holden Street
16
Turn slight left onto US 231
340 ft·5 sec·North Main Street
17
Continue on US 231
1.6 mi·2 min·Base Line Road
18
Continue on US 231
4.0 mi·5 min·Base Line Rd
19
Continue on US 231
9.6 mi·14 min·Base Line Road
20
Turn right onto South River Road
1.0 mi·2 min·South River Road
21
Enter roundabout onto South River Road
188 ft·7 sec·South River Road
22
Continue on South River Road
5.5 mi·9 min·South River Road
23
Continue on N River Road
0.4 mi·42 sec·N River Road
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
25
Merge onto I 65
84 mi·1 hr 32 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn left onto US 12; US 20
1.0 mi·1 min·East 5th Avenue
27
Continue on US 12; US 20
0.9 mi·1 min·East 4th Avenue
28
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Madison Street
29
Turn right onto West 8th Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·West 8th Avenue
30
Turn left
342 ft·25 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 16-minute duration, this drive is well-suited for a single day trip. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach Gary. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 83.7 miles on I-65, so plan your first break before or around this point. With a fuel cost of approximately $29, you'll want to ensure you have enough gas before heading out on the longer highway segments to minimize unnecessary stops.
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 94 miles from Stockton, IN, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.7 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 41 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94 miles or 2h 25m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Gary, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stockton, 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 Stockton, IN
This is one driving day of about 188 miles and 4h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Stockton, 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 I 65 for about 83.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 187.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Stockton Road
Turn right onto Stockton Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip|~6m in|SR 157 / State Road 157
Turn sharp right onto SR 157 / State Road 157
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
7.8 mi into trip|~17m in|SR 157 / East 9th Street
At end of road, turn left onto SR 157 / East 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
101.7 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
187.9 mi into trip|~4h 16m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.39 one way
$58.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.27
$64.54
premium
$4.89
$36.18
$72.36
diesel
$5.61
$41.51
$83.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.4
0
$19.74
$9.02
Efficient EV
47
0
$16.45
$7.52
EV Truck/SUV
75.2
0
$26.32
$12.03
Gas CO2
66 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Stockton, IN
Morning
in Stockton on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Gary, IN
Late night
in City of Gary on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Shadeland, IN
94 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
12 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
4h 16m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$20
near mile 181.5
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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 76% of your travel time spent on interstates and major state roads. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including an uninterrupted segment of 83.7 miles on I-65. While the journey is largely on faster roads, there are shifts as you transition between SR-59 and SR-47, offering a slight change of pace. The overall feel is one of steady progress, designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.7 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and SR 59. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Stockton Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 16m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Stockton Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (SR 157 / State Road 157): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 7.8 miles (SR 157 / East 9th Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 16m. Total distance: 188 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 83.7 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (Stockton Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (SR 157 / State Road 157): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 7.8 miles (SR 157 / East 9th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Gary, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
