How far is Charlestown, IN from Portage, IN?

The driving distance from Charlestown, IN to Portage, IN is about 257.7 miles (414.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 230 miles (370.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 08m 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
257.77 mi
04h 04m
Flight
229.99 mi
370.14 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Charlestown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
229.99 mi
Kilometers
370.14 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
257.77 mi
Kilometers
414.84 km
Drive Time
04h 04m

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 04h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portage
Tue, May 12, 10:36 PM CDT
Return by in Charlestown
Wed, May 13, 3:40 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charlestown
2026-05-12T19:32
Arrive Portage
Tue, May 12, 11:36 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:04 AM to 11:04 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
8:52 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charlestown
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
Lebanon
IN

City in Indiana, United States

From Charlestown
128.1 mi
02h 02m
To Portage
129.7 mi
02h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
47°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Tue, May 12 5:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph N
Destination
78°F
Tuesday

Patchy Frost then Rain Likely

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Charlestown and Portage.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charlestown and Portage.

  1. 1

    Start on County Road 403

    130 m · 11 sec · County Road 403

  2. 2

    Turn right onto County Road 160

    8.4 mi · 15 min · County Road 160

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    2504 ft · 51 sec

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 65 North: Indianapolis

    1369 ft · 34 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    92.3 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right

    29.8 mi · 36 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 52 West

    1281 ft · 16 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    786 ft · 10 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    117.5 mi · 2 hr 8 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit

    1.4 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Central Avenue

    1760 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    4.3 mi · 9 min · Central Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Central Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Central Avenue

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Charlestown and Portage.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
14 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 65 North
122 mi · 47%
US 52 West
118 mi · 46%
County Road 160
8.9 mi · 3%
Central Avenue
6.01 mi · 2%
I 80 East
0.87 mi
County Road 403
0.08 mi
Longest Stretch

US 52 West

Merge slight left

118 mi · 02h 08m

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
04h 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.7 mi
230 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebanon
02h 02m from Charlestown
Leave By
8:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Clear leaving Charlestown and Patchy Frost then Rain Likely near Portage.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charlestown to Portage?

The road trip is about 257.7 miles (414.8 km) and usually takes 04h 04m 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?

Lebanon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.1 miles from Charlestown and 129.7 miles from Portage.

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

The direct path is about 230 miles (370.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.7 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 8:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.32 one way or $68.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Clear around Charlestown and Patchy Frost then Rain Likely near Portage.

Stop Ideas Near Lebanon

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lebanon, 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 Lebanon.

BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

37 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Crawfordsville

37 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
RAIL

Indianapolis Union Station

41 mi away
350 South Illinois Street
RAIL

Lafayette station

55 mi away
200 North 2nd St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charlestown and Portage. Straight-line distance: 229.99 mi (370.14 km).

Charlestown

#1 Charlestown

City in Clark County, Indiana, United States

Population8,544
Coordinates38.4531200, -85.6702400
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Portage

#2 Portage

The second most populous city in Porter County, Indiana.

Population90,543
Coordinates41.5758700, -87.1761500
Altitude194
CountryUnited States
Start: County Road 403 (-85.670196, 38.453026)
End: Central Avenue (-87.17615, 41.575874)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 415 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.1 gal
34.43 L · about $34.32
Round trip
$68.63
18.2 gal · 68.86 L
Estimated CO2
80.9 kg one way
Round trip: 161.7 kg / 356 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.32 $68.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.70 $77.40
Premium $4.65 $42.35 $84.70
Diesel $5.30 $48.27 $96.53

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 · May 12, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Charlestown, IN and Portage, IN. The current time in Charlestown is 19:32:01, although it is 18:32:01 in Portage.

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.