How far is Decatur, IN from Gary, IN?

The driving distance from Decatur, IN to Gary, IN is about 166.2 miles (267.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 136.3 miles (219.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 06m 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
166.12 mi
03h 03m
Flight
136.24 mi
219.26 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Decatur.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
136.24 mi
Kilometers
219.26 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
166.12 mi
Kilometers
267.35 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, 10:00 PM CDT
Return by in Decatur
Thu, Apr 23, 2:03 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Decatur
2026-04-22T19:56
Arrive Gary
Wed, Apr 22, 11:00 PM 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
8:03 AM to 10:03 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
10:54 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Decatur
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 Decatur
77.5 mi
01h 31m
To Gary
88.6 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 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 Decatur and Gary.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Monroe Street

    2422 ft · 46 sec · West Monroe Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North 13th Street

    15.9 mi · 18 min · North 13th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Lafayette Street

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Lafayette Street

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on Lafayette Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Lafayette Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Spy Run Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Spy Run Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on North Clinton Street

    2084 ft · 28 sec · North Clinton Street

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto Lima Road

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Lima Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West Coliseum Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · West Coliseum Boulevard

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 930 West

    863 ft · 24 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Goshen Road

    1625 ft · 21 sec · Goshen Road

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    12.7 mi · 16 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    88.8 mi · 1 hr 56 min

  13. 13

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

    9.2 mi · 13 min

  14. 14

    Turn left onto I 80, I 90: Toll Road

    120 m · 10 sec

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    757 ft · 18 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on I 80, I 90: Toll Road

    125 m · 10 sec

  17. 17

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

    1246 ft · 31 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

    15.6 mi · 18 min · Indiana Toll Road

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 53: Broadway

    2139 ft · 56 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Broadway

    549 ft · 30 sec · Broadway

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West 4th Avenue

    1347 ft · 30 sec · West 4th Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Madison Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto 10th Place

    1298 ft · 57 sec · 10th Place

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 10th Place

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
24 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Goshen Road
102 mi · 61%
North 13th Street
15.9 mi · 10%
Indiana Toll Road
15.6 mi · 9%
SR 49 North
9.22 mi · 6%
Lafayette Street
5.63 mi · 3%
West Coliseum Boulevard
1.6 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Goshen Road

Continue straight

88.8 mi · 01h 56m

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 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.9 mi
136.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bourbon
01h 31m from Decatur
Leave By
10:54 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Decatur and Sunny near Gary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 166.2 miles (267.4 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 Decatur and 88.6 miles from Gary.

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

The direct path is about 136.3 miles (219.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.9 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 10:54 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.10 one way or $44.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Decatur 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 Sunny around Decatur 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 Decatur and Gary. Straight-line distance: 136.24 mi (219.26 km).

Decatur

#1 Decatur

City in Indiana, United States

Population34,821
Coordinates40.8306000, -84.9291300
Altitude244
CountryUnited States
Gary

#2 Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population74,693
Coordinates41.5933700, -87.3464300
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Start: West Monroe Street (-84.929141, 40.83064)
End: (-87.346439, 41.59327)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 267 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.86 gal
22.19 L · about $22.10
Round trip
$44.20
11.72 gal · 44.38 L
Estimated CO2
52.1 kg one way
Round trip: 104.2 kg / 230 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.10 $44.20
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.92 $49.85
Premium $4.65 $27.27 $54.54
Diesel $5.30 $31.08 $62.16

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 22, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Decatur, IN and Gary, IN. The current time in Decatur is 19:56:49, although it is 18:56:49 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.