Origin
Winamac, IN
Morning in Winamac on Tuesday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winamac, IN to Portage, 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 29m
Distance
64.4 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Winamac, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Portage, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on the 64.4-mile journey from Winamac, IN, to Portage, IN, will take approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes. This drive is easily manageable as a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of around $10. You'll be navigating primarily local roads, including segments of Lincoln Highway and North Monticello Street, with no highway driving. The overall feel is that of a turn-heavy local exploration through the Midwest region. With no designated stops, this route offers flexibility for spontaneous breaks.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | 15.5 mi | 20m |
| North Monticello Street | 10.5 mi | 15m |
| S 200 W | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| Indiana Toll Road | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| State Road 39 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| East 600 S | 4 mi | 5m |
| West 600 South | 2 mi | 2m |
| S 400 E | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 15.5 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winamac, IN and Portage, IN.
1
Start on US 35
10 mi
·
15 min
·
North Monticello Street
2
Continue on US 35; SR 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
S 400 E
3
Turn left onto SR 10
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East 600 S
4
Continue on SR 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West 600 South
5
Turn right onto SR 39
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
S 200 W
6
Continue on SR 39
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Road 39
7
Turn left onto US 30
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Lincoln Highway
8
Take the exit
9.2 mi
·
13 min
Toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton
9
Turn left
394 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
10
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
11
Continue on this road
411 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 80; I 90
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 23
Toward Portage
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
155 ft
·
10 sec
16
Turn left onto Willowcreek Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Willowcreek Road
17
Turn left onto Central Avenue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Central Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.2 miles from Winamac, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 46.6 and 63.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
46.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Ches...
6
55.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Turn left toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
9
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago
7
62.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward Portage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23
Toward Portage
4
63.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.07 one way
$20.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.05 | $22.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.39 | $24.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.22 | $28.44 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.46
Indiana Toll Road
(6.5 mi)
$0.46
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$0
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.02 | $4.12 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Portage, IN
Morning in Portage on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph
53% chance
Live forecast
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
20 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 29m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll be making frequent directional changes rather than cruising on a straight, fast road. With a 0% highway share, expect a more intimate connection with the landscape and local traffic. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.5 miles along Lincoln Highway. This type of drive requires your constant attention as you navigate through various local streets like S 200 W, offering a different driving experience than a typical interstate journey.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.5 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 46.6 miles in.
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 64.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 46.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
On the drive from Winamac, IN to Portage, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Chesterton along the way.
Chesterton
46.6 mi in
|
~1h 4m
About the Cities
Starting in Winamac, 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 29m. Total distance: 64.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.5 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.46 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 46.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Portage, 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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