How far is East Chicago, IN from West Lafayette, IN?

The driving distance from East Chicago, IN to West Lafayette, IN is about 99.2 miles (159.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 88.5 miles (142.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 21m 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
99.23 mi
01h 40m
Flight
88.55 mi
142.5 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from East Chicago.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
88.55 mi
Kilometers
142.5 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
99.23 mi
Kilometers
159.7 km
Drive Time
01h 40m

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 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Lafayette
Sat, Apr 18, 11:45 PM EDT
Return by in East Chicago
Sun, Apr 19, 12:26 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave East Chicago
2026-04-18T21:04
Arrive West Lafayette
Sat, Apr 18, 10:45 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:41 AM to 12:41 PM EDT

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

Leave by
3:08 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in East Chicago
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 East Chicago
49.5 mi
00h 50m
To West Lafayette
49.8 mi
00h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SW
Destination
73°F
Saturday

Light Rain

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 17 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between East Chicago and West Lafayette.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Chicago and West Lafayette.

  1. 1

    Start on East Columbus Drive

    1.2 mi · 2 min · East Columbus Drive

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cline Avenue

    7 m · 1 sec · Cline Avenue

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto Cline Avenue

    747 ft · 13 sec · Cline Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left toward SR 912 South: Cline Avenue

    1069 ft · 26 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Cline Avenue

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Cline Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East, I 65, I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Detroit, Chicago

    1108 ft · 27 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Detroit

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Borman Expressway

    5.1 mi · 7 min · Borman Expressway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 South: Indianapolis

    2002 ft · 34 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    1.3 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

    80 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 43: Brookston, West Lafayette

    2054 ft · 45 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on West Lafayette, Indiana Veterans Home, Purdue University, VA Clinic, Tippecanoe, Battlefield, Prophetstown State Park

    65 m · 5 sec

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto North River Road

    5.1 mi · 8 min · North River Road

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Quincy Street

    1236 ft · 60 sec · Quincy Street

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Salisbury Street

    741 ft · 29 sec · North Salisbury Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Street

    669 ft · 32 sec · North Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Northwestern Avenue

    11 m · 2 sec · Northwestern Avenue

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Northwestern Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between East Chicago and West Lafayette.

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
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
80 mi · 81%
North River Road
5.11 mi · 5%
Borman Expressway
5.08 mi · 5%
Cline Avenue
3.89 mi · 4%
I 80 East
1.33 mi · 1%
East Columbus Drive
1.17 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

80 mi · 01h 27m

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 40m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.7 mi
88.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mount Ayr
00h 50m from East Chicago
Leave By
3:08 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving East Chicago and Light Rain near West Lafayette.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from East Chicago to West Lafayette?

The road trip is about 99.2 miles (159.7 km) and usually takes 01h 40m 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 49.5 miles from East Chicago and 49.8 miles from West Lafayette.

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

The direct path is about 88.5 miles (142.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:08 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.20 one way or $26.40 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between East Chicago and West Lafayette, 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 East Chicago and Light Rain near West Lafayette.

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 East Chicago and West Lafayette. Straight-line distance: 88.55 mi (142.5 km).

East Chicago

#1 East Chicago

City in Lake County, Indiana, United States

Population27,742
Coordinates41.6392000, -87.4547600
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
West Lafayette

#2 West Lafayette

The most populous city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

Population51,605
Coordinates40.4258700, -86.9080700
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Start: East Columbus Drive (-87.454765, 41.639089)
End: Northwestern Avenue (-86.908094, 40.425857)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 160 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.5 gal
13.26 L · about $13.20
Round trip
$26.40
7 gal · 26.52 L
Estimated CO2
31.1 kg one way
Round trip: 62.2 kg / 137 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.20 $26.40
Mid-grade $4.25 $14.89 $29.77
Premium $4.65 $16.29 $32.58
Diesel $5.30 $18.56 $37.13

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between East Chicago, IN and West Lafayette, IN. The current time in East Chicago is 21:04:32, although it is 22:04:32 in West Lafayette.

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.