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Trip from Winona Lake, IN to City of Gary, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 5m

Distance

94.1 mi

152 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 56m ★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Winona Lake, IN, IN

Winona Lake, IN

Tom Fisk

Downtown City of Gary, IN, IN

City of Gary, IN

Артем Дворецкий

Trip Overview

This 94.1-mile journey from Winona Lake, IN, to the City of Gary, IN, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, estimated to take around 2 hours and 5 minutes. You'll primarily navigate using Lake City Highway and the Indiana Toll Road, with Parker Street also playing a role. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, this drive through the Midwest is practical and efficient. The route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more local, less highway-centric experience. Given its relatively short duration and the estimated fuel cost, this trip is well-suited for a single day's adventure without the need for an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

47.1 miles from Winona Lake, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Lake City Highway 65.9 mi 1h 25m
Indiana Toll Road 15.6 mi 17m
Parker Street 0.6 mi 1m
Madison Street 0.5 mi 1m
Argonne Road 0.4 mi 1m
Park Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
West 4th Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
West 8th Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Lake City Highway — 65.9 mi, about 1h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Winona Lake, IN and City of Gary, IN.

1

Start on Park Avenue

0.3 mi · 59 sec · Park Avenue
2

Enter roundabout onto Argonne Road

129 ft · 3 sec · Argonne Road
3

Continue on Argonne Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Argonne Road
4

Continue on Parker Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Parker Street
5

At end of road, turn right onto Parker Street

125 ft · 5 sec · Parker Street
6

Turn left onto US 30

66 mi · 1 hr 25 min · Lake City Highway
7

Take the exit

9.2 mi · 13 min
Toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton
8

Turn left

394 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
9

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · this road
10

Continue on this road

411 ft · 10 sec · this road
Toward I 80, I 90: Toll Road
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago Use the straight lane.
12

Merge onto I 80; I 90

16 mi · 17 min · Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Exit 14B Toward SR 53: Broadway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Turn left onto SR 53

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Broadway
15

Turn right onto US 12; US 20

0.3 mi · 30 sec · West 4th Avenue
16

Turn left onto Madison Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Madison Street
17

Turn right onto West 8th Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · West 8th Avenue
18

Turn left

342 ft · 25 sec
19

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For this 2-hour, 94.1-mile trip, departing in the morning will allow you to take advantage of the flexibility offered by a shorter drive. Since there are no planned stops in the data, consider bringing snacks and drinks to minimize the need for unscheduled breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 65.9 miles on Lake City Highway, and plan your refueling accordingly, as the estimated fuel cost is $14. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you should be prepared for frequent adjustments in speed and direction.

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 47.1 miles from Winona Lake, IN, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.9 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 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 47.1 miles or 1h 2m 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 43m

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 Winona Lake, 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 Winona Lake, IN

This is one driving day of about 94.1 miles and 2h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Winona Lake, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lake City Highway for about 65.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Westville, IN, IN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Westville, IN

47 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.

Popular next leg

Westville, IN to City of Gary, IN

27.2 mi · 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Bourbon, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

North Judson, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.1 miles from Winona Lake, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Lake City Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.9 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

The River Coffeehouse Village at Winona

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Winona Lake, Indiana

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route Moderately

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+15742691000

Visit website

Etna Green Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Etna Green, Indiana

0.5 mi

Uptown Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Valparaiso, Indiana

1.6 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Ivy Terra Plant Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Plymouth, Indiana

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 26.9

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

Visit website

The River Coffeehouse Village at Winona

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route Moderately

Winona Lake, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+15742691000

Visit website

Etna Green Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 13.4

Etna Green, Indiana

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+15748589081

Visit website

Uptown Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 67.2

Valparaiso, Indiana

Hours: 5:30 am–3:30 pm

+12192992742

Visit website

Creighton's Crazy Egg Cafe & Coffee Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 6.7

Warsaw, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15742673549

Visit website

Coffee Lodge and Bakery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 26.9

Plymouth, Indiana

Hours: 6 am–5:30 pm

+15749362102

Visit website

The French Press Coffee Co.

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 26.9

Plymouth, Indiana

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+15745402940

Visit website

Albano's Pasta Shop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 67.2

Valparaiso, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12192429160

Visit website

Blackbird Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 67.2

Valparaiso, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+12195482811

Visit website

Ivy Terra Plant Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 26.9

Plymouth, Indiana

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

Visit website

Angjelina Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 26.9

Plymouth, Indiana

Mimi's Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 33.6

Plymouth, Indiana

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

Visit website

Luckys Koontz Lake

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 40.3

Walkerton, Indiana

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+15743165592

Visit website

Moraine Nature Preserve

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 74

Valparaiso, Indiana

+12199819183

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 92.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | Argonne Road

Enter roundabout onto Argonne Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
67.3 mi into trip | ~1h 29m 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
76.5 mi into trip | ~1h 42m 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
76.8 mi into trip | ~1h 42m 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
92.6 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in

Take the exit toward SR 53: Broadway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 14B Toward SR 53: Broadway

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.71 one way

$29.42 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.15 $32.31
premium $4.89 $18.11 $36.22
diesel $5.61 $20.78 $41.55

Estimated Tolls: $1.09

Indiana Toll Road (15.6 mi) $1.09

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.2 0 $9.88 $4.52
Efficient EV 23.5 0 $8.23 $3.76
EV Truck/SUV 37.6 0 $13.17 $6.02

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 13, 2026

Origin

Winona Lake, IN

Morning in Winona Lake on Sunday

Local time

6:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°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

78°F

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 mph 38% chance Live forecast

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

26 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

2h 5m 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?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 94.1-mile route, with a 0% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 65.9 miles on Lake City Highway. This means you'll be engaging with the road frequently, making it a more interactive driving experience than a typical interstate cruise. The profile suggests a drive that will keep you attentive, with numerous changes in direction as you make your way from Winona Lake to Gary.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.9 mi on Lake City 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Argonne 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 94.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.3 miles (Argonne Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 67.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

850 ft 604 ft

Total Climb

240 ft

Total Descent

450 ft

Highest Point

850 ft

~20.2 mi in

Elevation Range

246 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 Winona Lake, IN to City of Gary, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Chesterton along the way.

Chesterton

67.3 mi in | ~1h 29m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 94.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 65.9 miles on Lake City Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.09 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, 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 0.3 miles (Argonne Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 67.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Gary, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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