How far is Elkhart, IN from Cedar Lake, IN?

The driving distance from Elkhart, IN to Cedar Lake, IN is about 101.3 miles (163 km), with a travel time of about 02h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 78.9 miles (126.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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
101.26 mi
02h 12m
Flight
78.86 mi
126.92 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elkhart.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
78.86 mi
Kilometers
126.92 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
101.26 mi
Kilometers
162.97 km
Drive Time
02h 12m

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 02h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cedar Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 1:33 AM CDT
Return by in Elkhart
Thu, Apr 23, 4:45 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elkhart
2026-04-23T00:21
Arrive Cedar Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 2:33 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:12 AM to 11:12 AM CDT

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

Leave by
2:06 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elkhart
9:30 PM EDT
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
LaPorte
IN

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

From Elkhart
50.6 mi
01h 06m
To Cedar Lake
50.7 mi
01h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
75°F
Wednesday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elkhart and Cedar Lake.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elkhart and Cedar Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on Pletcher Court

    89 m · 19 sec · Pletcher Court

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Franklin Street

    1033 ft · 30 sec · West Franklin Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South 2nd Street

    1243 ft · 33 sec · South 2nd Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Jackson Boulevard

    129 m · 15 sec · West Jackson Boulevard

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Bristol Street

    1268 ft · 24 sec · East Bristol Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Cassopolis Street

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Cassopolis Street

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road

    610 ft · 15 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road

    922 ft · 22 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road

    1320 ft · 32 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

    70.7 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Indiana Toll Road

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines

    3216 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East

    543 ft · 13 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West, I 80 West

    2.9 mi · 4 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis

    1 km · 52 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South, I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Indianapolis, Chicago

    618 ft · 10 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Indianapolis

    2686 ft · 60 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

    9.7 mi · 12 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward 109th Avenue

    1038 ft · 20 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on 109th Avenue

    1527 ft · 37 sec

  21. 21

    Continue on East 109th Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · East 109th Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on East North Street

    1.5 mi · 4 min · East North Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    869 ft · 20 sec · North Main Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto West Clark Street

    90 m · 8 sec · West Clark Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto North Court Street

    73 m · 10 sec · North Court Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto West 109th Avenue

    3.4 mi · 6 min · West 109th Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Cline Avenue

    2.5 mi · 6 min · Cline Avenue

  28. 28

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Lakeshore Drive

    4 m · 1 sec · West Lakeshore Drive

  29. 29

    Exit the roundabout onto West Lakeshore Drive

    1 mi · 2 min · West Lakeshore Drive

  30. 30

    Continue on West 133rd Avenue

    944 ft · 33 sec · West 133rd Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Parrish Avenue

    1537 ft · 48 sec · Parrish Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn left onto West 135th Place

    978 ft · 43 sec · West 135th Place

  33. 33

    Continue on Doffin Street

    1104 ft · 54 sec · Doffin Street

  34. 34

    At the end of the road, turn left onto West 137th Avenue

    1189 ft · 54 sec · West 137th Avenue

  35. 35

    Turn right onto Birch Street

    1403 ft · 1 min · Birch Street

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Lauerman Street

    692 ft · 30 sec · Lauerman Street

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Lauerman Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elkhart and Cedar Lake.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
37 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
36.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Indiana Toll Road
70.7 mi · 70%
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
9.71 mi · 10%
West 109th Avenue
3.44 mi · 3%
I 94 West
3.04 mi · 3%
Cline Avenue
2.45 mi · 2%
Cassopolis Street
2.2 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Indiana Toll Road

Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

70.7 mi · 01h 17m

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
02h 12m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.4 mi
78.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
LaPorte
01h 06m from Elkhart
Leave By
2:06 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elkhart and Sunny near Cedar Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elkhart to Cedar Lake?

The road trip is about 101.3 miles (163 km) and usually takes 02h 12m 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?

LaPorte is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50.6 miles from Elkhart and 50.7 miles from Cedar Lake.

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

The direct path is about 78.9 miles (126.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.4 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:06 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.46 one way or $26.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Elkhart and Sunny near Cedar Lake.

Stop Ideas Near LaPorte

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

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

RAIL

Michigan City

20 mi away
100 Washington St.
RAIL

New Buffalo, Michigan

20 mi away
517 South Whittaker Street
RAIL

New Buffalo

21 mi away
226 North Whittaker Street
RAIL

South Bend station

37 mi away
2702 West Washington Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elkhart and Cedar Lake. Straight-line distance: 78.86 mi (126.92 km).

Elkhart

#1 Elkhart

The most populous city in Elkhart County, Indiana.

Population52,172
Coordinates41.6819900, -85.9766700
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Cedar Lake

#2 Cedar Lake

Town in Lake County, Indiana, United States

Population13,588
Coordinates41.3647600, -87.4411500
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Start: Elkhart (-85.97667, 41.68199)
End: Cedar Lake (-87.44115, 41.36476)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 163 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.57 gal
13.53 L · about $13.46
Round trip
$26.92
7.14 gal · 27.06 L
Estimated CO2
31.7 kg one way
Round trip: 63.5 kg / 140 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.46 $26.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.18 $30.37
Premium $4.65 $16.61 $33.23
Diesel $5.30 $18.94 $37.87

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 Elkhart, IN and Cedar Lake, IN. The current time in Elkhart is 00:21:47, although it is 23:21:47 in Cedar Lake.

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.