Origin
West Lafayette, IN
Late night in West Lafayette on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Lafayette, IN to Hammond, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
97.7 mi
157 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Lafayette, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 98.7-mile drive from West Lafayette, IN to Hammond, IN is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 41 minutes. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with a 0% highway share, making it a more connected, turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $15. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is best suited for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. As both your origin and destination are within the Midwest, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout your drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.8 miles from West Lafayette, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 80.4 mi | 1h 27m |
| Borman Expressway | 8 mi | 10m |
| North River Road | 5 mi | 8m |
| 173rd Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| N River Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Indianapolis Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Columbia Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Wiggins Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 80.4 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Lafayette, IN and Hammond, IN.
1
Start on Northwestern Avenue
42 ft
·
2 sec
·
Northwestern Avenue
2
Turn right onto Vine Street
275 ft
·
16 sec
·
Vine Street
3
Turn right onto Wiggins Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Wiggins Street
4
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
5
At end of road, turn left onto North River Road
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North River Road
6
Continue on N River Road
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
N River Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
8
Merge onto I 65
80 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 259A
Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Borman Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 2
Toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
Use the slight left lane.
13
Turn straight onto SR 152
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Indianapolis Boulevard
14
Turn left onto 173rd Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
173rd Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Columbia Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Columbia Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Columbia Avenue
Trip Plan
With a total driving time of just over 1.5 hours, this 98.7-mile trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart West Lafayette in the morning and arrive in Hammond by midday, or even leave later in the afternoon. Since there are no designated stops, consider planning your own brief breaks as needed, perhaps for a quick stretch or to grab a coffee. The estimated fuel cost is $15, so ensure you have enough gas before you set off to avoid any unnecessary stops along these local roads. Pay close attention to your navigation, as the turn-heavy nature of this route means you'll be making frequent adjustments.
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 48.8 miles from West Lafayette, IN, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.4 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.8 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 31m
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 West Lafayette, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Lafayette, IN
This is one driving day of about 97.7 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from West Lafayette, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 80.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.8 miles from West Lafayette, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.4 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 96.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Wiggins Street
Turn right onto Wiggins Street
Navigation decision point
8
86.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 259A
Toward I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Chicago
8
95.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward SR 152 North, US 41 South: Indianapolis...
8
96 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward SR 152 North: Indianapolis Boulevard
6
96.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
173rd Street
Turn left onto 173rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.27 one way
$30.55 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.77 | $33.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.80 | $37.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.57 | $43.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 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 | 29.3 | 0 | $10.26 | $4.69 |
| Efficient EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.55 | $3.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.1 | 0 | $13.68 | $6.25 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Hammond, IN
Late night in Hammond on Tuesday
Local time
4:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Shelby, IN
49 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 56m 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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$20
near mile 87.6
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park Closure: Mount Baldy Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 98.7-mile journey, as indicated by the 0% highway share. You'll be navigating through local streets, including Vine Street, Wiggins Street, and North River Road, rather than high-speed highways. This means a more engaged driving experience with frequent turns and a closer connection to the communities you pass through. Without long stretches of uninterrupted driving, you'll likely find yourself adjusting your speed and direction often, making for a dynamic trip.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.4 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Borman Expressway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Wiggins Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 97.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (Wiggins Street): Navigation decision point; at 86.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Hammond, IN
Full guide →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!
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 56m. Total distance: 97.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.4 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hammond, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.1 miles (Wiggins Street): Navigation decision point; at 86.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Hammond, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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