Union, IN to Hammond, IN is 236.5 miles and takes about 5h 22m via US 41, SR 63, and SR 56, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable length, it's a straightforward drive. Plan for a single day to cover the distance efficiently.
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
118.2 miles from Union, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 41
154.7 mi
3h 22m
SR 63
63.3 mi
1h 20m
SR 56
7.8 mi
13m
Indianapolis Boulevard
6.4 mi
13m
North County Road 850 West
1.3 mi
5m
173rd Street
1 mi
2m
Trippet Road
0.5 mi
<1m
East 2nd Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 41
— 154.7 mi, about 3h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, IN and Hammond, IN.
1
Start on SR 65
74 ft·6 sec·SR 65
2
Turn left onto North County Road 850 West
1.3 mi·5 min·North County Road 850 West
3
Turn left onto SR 56
3.6 mi·6 min·SR 56
4
At end of road, turn left onto SR 56
2.6 mi·4 min·SR 56
5
Turn left onto SR 56
0.3 mi·33 sec·SR 56
6
Continue on SR 56
0.5 mi·58 sec·Trippet Road
7
Turn left onto SR 56
0.4 mi·37 sec·East 2nd Street
8
Continue on SR 56
0.3 mi·39 sec·East 1st Street
9
Turn left onto SR 56
443 ft·11 sec·North Main Street
10
Turn right onto SR 56
469 ft·14 sec·West 2nd Street
11
Turn left onto SR 56
0.2 mi·17 sec·South Mill Street
12
Continue on SR 56
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto SR 56
1.3 mi·2 min·SR 56
14
Turn right onto US 41
16 mi·18 min·US 41
15
Take the exit onto US 41; US 150
58 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 41; US 150
Toward US 41 North, US 150: Terre HauteUse the straight lane.
16
Turn straight onto SR 63
63 mi·1 hr 20 min·SR 63
Toward Chicago
17
Continue on US 41
81 mi·1 hr 45 min·US 41
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 41
6.4 mi·13 min·Indianapolis Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto 173rd Street
1.0 mi·2 min·173rd Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Columbia Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·Columbia Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Columbia Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time under six hours, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid early rush hours and arrive in Hammond with time to spare. You'll cover 154.7 miles on US 41 before needing to navigate other roads, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before hitting that long stretch. With only one recommended stop, plan your breaks strategically to stay refreshed. The $37 fuel estimate is based on current averages, so adjust as needed.
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 118.2 miles from Union, IN, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.7 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 52 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.2 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hammond, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, 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 Union, IN
This is one driving day of about 236.5 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Union, 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 US 41 for about 154.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 118.2 miles from Union, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before US 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.7 miles.
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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 235.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.1 mi into trip|~19m in|SR 56 / West 2nd Street
Turn right onto SR 56 / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
9.2 mi into trip|~19m in|SR 56 / South Mill Street
Turn left onto SR 56 / South Mill Street
Navigation decision point
5
9.6 mi into trip|~20m in|SR 56
At end of road, turn left onto SR 56
Navigation decision point
7
27.3 mi into trip|~41m in|US 41; US 150
Take the exit onto US 41; US 150 toward US 41 North, US 150: Terre Haute
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 41 North, US 150: Terre Haute
6
235.3 mi into trip|~5h 19m in|173rd Street
Turn left onto 173rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.67 one way
$73.33 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$40.21
$80.41
premium
$4.93
$45.88
$91.77
diesel
$5.60
$52.13
$104.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71
0
$24.83
$11.35
Efficient EV
59.1
0
$20.69
$9.46
EV Truck/SUV
94.6
1
$33.11
$15.14
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Aug 22, 2026
Origin
Union, IN
Evening
in Union on Friday
Local time
5:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 2 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 21 at 10:44PM EDT until August 23 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 21 at 8:34PM EDT until August 24 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Hammond, IN
Afternoon
in Hammond on Friday
Local time
4:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 21 at 10:44PM EDT until August 23 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 21 at 8:34PM EDT until August 24 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis 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
1 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
5h 22m 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.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 A.M., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of t...
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
$20
near mile 236.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend about 95% of your time on highways. The longest continuous stretch on this route is 154.7 miles, primarily on US 41. You'll notice a consistent highway feel for most of the drive, with fewer transitions to surface roads until closer to your destination. This means plenty of open road for cruising.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.7 mi on US 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 41 and SR 63. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in near SR 56 / West 2nd Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 22m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (SR 56 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.2 miles (SR 56 / South Mill Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles (SR 56): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
795 ft411 ft
Total Climb
561 ft
Total Descent
430 ft
Highest Point
795 ft
~168.9 mi in
Elevation Range
384 ft
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 Union, IN to Hammond, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Hammond is a Chicagoland city of some 76,000 people (2019) in Lake County, Indiana—bordering Chicago's Far Southeast Side. Most visitors will find themselves passing through or on business, but Chicagoans would do well to include it in a close-in Lake County day trip, if for no other reason than to get some good food, perhaps stock up on fireworks, and realize that Chicagoland doesn't stop at the state line!
Top landmarks
•State Street Commercial Historic District — historic district in Indiana, United States
The longest stretch is about 154.7 miles on US 41. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (SR 56 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.2 miles (SR 56 / South Mill Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles (SR 56): Navigation decision point.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hammond, IN before the return drive.
