How far is Elkhart, IN from Chesterton, IN?

The driving distance from Elkhart, IN to Chesterton, IN is about 69.5 miles (111.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 56.4 miles (90.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 44m 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
69.48 mi
01h 22m
Flight
56.36 mi
90.71 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
56.36 mi
Kilometers
90.71 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
69.48 mi
Kilometers
111.82 km
Drive Time
01h 22m

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 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chesterton
Wed, Apr 22, 9:44 PM CDT
Return by in Elkhart
Thu, Apr 23, 12:06 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elkhart
2026-04-22T21:22
Arrive Chesterton
Wed, Apr 22, 10:44 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:22 AM to 10:22 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:46 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
New Carlisle
IN

Human settlement in St.

From Elkhart
34.7 mi
00h 41m
To Chesterton
34.8 mi
00h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
72°F
Wednesday

Patchy Fog then Mostly 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 Chesterton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elkhart and Chesterton.

  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

    60.8 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Indiana Toll Road

  12. 12

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

    2625 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Turn left

    2.2 mi · 4 min

  14. 14

    Turn left onto East Porter Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · East Porter Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto South 9th Street

    1412 ft · 1 min · South 9th Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 9th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
16 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Indiana Toll Road
60.8 mi · 87%
Cassopolis Street
2.2 mi · 3%
East Porter Avenue
1.15 mi · 2%
North Main Street
1.07 mi · 2%
I 80
0.54 mi · 1%
SR 49
0.5 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Indiana Toll Road

Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

60.8 mi · 01h 05m

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 22m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.1 mi
56.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New Carlisle
00h 41m from Elkhart
Leave By
3:46 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Elkhart and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Chesterton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elkhart to Chesterton?

The road trip is about 69.5 miles (111.8 km) and usually takes 01h 22m 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?

New Carlisle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 34.7 miles from Elkhart and 34.8 miles from Chesterton.

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

The direct path is about 56.4 miles (90.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.1 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 3:46 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.24 one way or $18.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 21.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Elkhart and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Chesterton.

Stop Ideas Near New Carlisle

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

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

RAIL

South Bend station

18 mi away
2702 West Washington Avenue
RAIL

New Buffalo, Michigan

21 mi away
517 South Whittaker Street
RAIL

New Buffalo

22 mi away
226 North Whittaker Street
RAIL

Niles station

26 mi away
598 Dey St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elkhart and Chesterton. Straight-line distance: 56.36 mi (90.71 km).

Elkhart

#1 Elkhart

The most populous city in Elkhart County, Indiana.

Population52,172
Coordinates41.6819900, -85.9766700
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Chesterton

Town in the U.

Population13,433
Coordinates41.6105900, -87.0642000
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Start: Elkhart (-85.97667, 41.68199)
End: Chesterton (-87.0642, 41.61059)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 112 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.45 gal
9.28 L · about $9.24
Round trip
$18.48
4.9 gal · 18.56 L
Estimated CO2
21.8 kg one way
Round trip: 43.5 kg / 96 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.24 $18.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $10.42 $20.84
Premium $4.65 $11.40 $22.80
Diesel $5.30 $12.99 $25.99

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 Chesterton, IN. The current time in Elkhart is 21:22:03, although it is 20:22:03 in Chesterton.

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.