How far is City of Gary, IN from Dayton, IN?

The driving distance from City of Gary, IN to Dayton, IN is about 97 miles (156.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 89.6 miles (144.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
96.98 mi
01h 51m
Flight
89.58 mi
144.17 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from City of Gary.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
89.58 mi
Kilometers
144.17 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
96.98 mi
Kilometers
156.08 km
Drive Time
01h 51m

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 01h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dayton
Sun, Sep 20, 1:42 PM EDT
Return by in City of Gary
Sun, Sep 20, 2:33 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave City of Gary
2026-09-20T10:51
Arrive Dayton
Sun, Sep 20, 12:42 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:51 AM to 12:51 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in City of Gary
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Mount Ayr
IN

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

From City of Gary
48.5 mi
00h 55m
To Dayton
48.5 mi
00h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Today

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Sep 20 10:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NE
Destination
81°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Sep 20 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between City of Gary and Dayton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between City of Gary and Dayton.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    104 m · 27 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West 8th Avenue

    875 ft · 33 sec · West 8th Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    1992 ft · 1 min · Madison Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West 5th Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · West 5th Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

    93.1 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 38: Dayton, Lafayette

    2571 ft · 57 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto SR 38

    1.1 km · 1 min · SR 38

  8. 8

    Continue on Walnut Street

    1361 ft · 44 sec · Walnut Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Dayton Road

    18 m · 2 sec · Dayton Road

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Dayton Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between City of Gary and Dayton.

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
10 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
93.1 mi · 96%
West 5th Avenue
1.82 mi · 2%
SR 38
1.19 mi · 1%
Madison Street
0.38 mi
Walnut Street
0.26 mi
West 8th Avenue
0.17 mi
Longest Stretch

Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

Turn right onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

93.1 mi · 01h 43m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.4 mi
89.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mount Ayr
00h 55m from City of Gary
Leave By
2:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving City of Gary and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Dayton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from City of Gary to Dayton?

The road trip is about 97 miles (156.1 km) and usually takes 01h 51m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mount Ayr is a useful midpoint, sitting about 48.5 miles from City of Gary and 48.5 miles from Dayton.

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

The direct path is about 89.6 miles (144.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.78 one way or $27.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around City of Gary and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Dayton.

Stop Ideas Near Mount Ayr

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

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

RAIL

Rensselaer

12 mi away
619 North Cullen Street
RAIL

Kankakee

51 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Gilman

62 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Dyer station

63 mi away
913 Sheffield Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between City of Gary and Dayton. Straight-line distance: 89.58 mi (144.17 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 City of Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population80,294
Coordinates41.5956000, -87.3452100
Altitude185
CountryUnited States
Dayton

#2 Dayton

Town in Indiana, USA

Population1,667
Coordinates40.3742000, -86.7689000
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Start: City of Gary (-87.34521, 41.5956)
End: Dayton (-86.7689, 40.3742)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 156 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.42 gal
12.95 L · about $13.78
Round trip
$27.56
6.84 gal · 25.9 L
Estimated CO2
30.4 kg one way
Round trip: 60.8 kg / 134 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.03 $13.78 $27.56
Mid-grade $4.57 $15.64 $31.29
Premium $5.11 $17.47 $34.95
Diesel $6.71 $22.95 $45.90

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 · Sep 20, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between City of Gary, IN and Dayton, IN. The current time in City of Gary is 10:51:10, although it is 11:51:10 in Dayton.

Distance to Other Cities

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