How far is Bluffton, IN from Gary, IN?

The driving distance from Bluffton, IN to Gary, IN is about 162.1 miles (260.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 127.6 miles (205.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
162.08 mi
03h 03m
Flight
127.6 mi
205.35 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bluffton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
127.6 mi
Kilometers
205.35 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
162.08 mi
Kilometers
260.85 km
Drive Time
03h 03m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gary
Wed, Apr 22, 11:17 PM CDT
Return by in Bluffton
Thu, Apr 23, 3:21 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bluffton
2026-04-22T21:14
Arrive Gary
Thu, Apr 23, 12:17 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:04 AM to 10:04 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:52 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bluffton
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Bourbon
IN

Human settlement in Marshall County, Indiana, United States of America

From Bluffton
77.5 mi
01h 31m
To Gary
84.6 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
69°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bluffton and Gary.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bluffton and Gary.

  1. 1

    Start on West Washington Street

    14 m · 7 sec · West Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    12.3 mi · 18 min · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Bluffton Road

    6 mi · 8 min · Bluffton Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Airport Expressway

    1 mi · 2 min · Airport Expressway

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Ardmore Avenue

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Ardmore Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Hillegas Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Hillegas Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Leesburg Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Leesburg Road

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Flaugh Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Flaugh Road

  9. 9

    Turn left

    99.3 mi · 2 hr 9 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton

    9.2 mi · 13 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto I 80, I 90: Toll Road

    120 m · 10 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    757 ft · 18 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on I 80, I 90: Toll Road

    125 m · 10 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago

    1246 ft · 31 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

    15.6 mi · 18 min · Indiana Toll Road

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 53: Broadway

    2139 ft · 56 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Broadway

    549 ft · 30 sec · Broadway

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West 4th Avenue

    1347 ft · 30 sec · West 4th Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Madison Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto 10th Place

    1298 ft · 57 sec · 10th Place

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 10th Place

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bluffton and Gary.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
21 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Indiana Toll Road
15.6 mi · 10%
South Main Street
12.3 mi · 8%
SR 49 North
9.22 mi · 6%
Bluffton Road
6.01 mi · 4%
Ardmore Avenue
4.91 mi · 3%
Leesburg Road
2.3 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

99.3 mi · 02h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.5 mi
127.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bourbon
01h 31m from Bluffton
Leave By
10:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Bluffton and Sunny near Gary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bluffton to Gary?

The road trip is about 162.1 miles (260.8 km) and usually takes 03h 03m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Bourbon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.5 miles from Bluffton and 84.6 miles from Gary.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 127.6 miles (205.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.57 one way or $43.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Bluffton and Gary, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Bluffton and Sunny near Gary.

Stop Ideas Near Bourbon

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Bourbon, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bourbon.

RAIL

Elkhart station

45 mi away
131 Tyler Avenue
RAIL

South Bend station

45 mi away
2702 West Washington Avenue
RAIL

Niles station

61 mi away
598 Dey St.
RAIL

New Buffalo, Michigan

75 mi away
517 South Whittaker Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bluffton and Gary. Straight-line distance: 127.6 mi (205.35 km).

Bluffton

#1 Bluffton

City in Harrison and Lancaster townships, Wells County, Indiana, United States

Population10,094
Coordinates40.7386600, -85.1716400
Altitude252
CountryUnited States
Gary

#2 Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population74,693
Coordinates41.5933700, -87.3464300
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Start: West Washington Street (-85.17164, 40.73869)
End: (-87.346439, 41.59327)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 261 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.72 gal
21.65 L · about $21.57
Round trip
$43.14
11.44 gal · 43.3 L
Estimated CO2
50.8 kg one way
Round trip: 101.7 kg / 224 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.57 $43.14
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.33 $48.65
Premium $4.65 $26.62 $53.24
Diesel $5.30 $30.34 $60.68

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Indiana · Apr 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Bluffton, IN and Gary, IN. The current time in Bluffton is 21:14:15, although it is 20:14:15 in Gary.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.