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

The driving distance from Elkhart, IN to City of Gary, IN is about 82.8 miles (133.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 70.9 miles (114.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 56m 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
82.83 mi
01h 28m
Flight
70.92 mi
114.13 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
70.92 mi
Kilometers
114.13 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
82.83 mi
Kilometers
133.3 km
Drive Time
01h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in City of Gary
Mon, Jun 1, 7:51 PM CDT
Return by in Elkhart
Mon, Jun 1, 10:19 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elkhart
2026-06-01T19:22
Arrive City of Gary
Mon, Jun 1, 8:51 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:28 AM to 10:28 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:34 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
Smith
IN

Unincorporated community in Indiana, United States

From Elkhart
41.4 mi
00h 44m
To City of Gary
41.4 mi
00h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 4:00 PM EDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
62°F
This Afternoon

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    76.8 mi · 1 hr 23 min · Indiana Toll Road

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 53: Broadway

    2139 ft · 56 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Broadway

    549 ft · 30 sec · Broadway

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West 4th Avenue

    1347 ft · 30 sec · West 4th Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    2662 ft · 1 min · Madison Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West 8th Avenue

    875 ft · 31 sec · West 8th Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left

    104 m · 25 sec

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Indiana Toll Road
76.8 mi · 93%
Cassopolis Street
2.2 mi · 3%
North Main Street
1.07 mi · 1%
I 80
0.54 mi · 1%
Madison Street
0.5 mi · 1%
SR 53
0.41 mi
Longest Stretch

Indiana Toll Road

Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

76.8 mi · 01h 23m

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 28m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.9 mi
70.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Smith
00h 44m from Elkhart
Leave By
3:34 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Elkhart and Slight Chance Rain Showers near City of Gary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 82.8 miles (133.3 km) and usually takes 01h 28m 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?

Smith is a useful midpoint, sitting about 41.4 miles from Elkhart and 41.4 miles from City of Gary.

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

The direct path is about 70.9 miles (114.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.01 one way or $22.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Elkhart and Slight Chance Rain Showers near City of Gary.

Stop Ideas Near Smith

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

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

RAIL

New Buffalo, Michigan

10 mi away
517 South Whittaker Street
RAIL

New Buffalo

11 mi away
226 North Whittaker Street
RAIL

Michigan City

20 mi away
100 Washington St.
RAIL

South Bend station

32 mi away
2702 West Washington Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elkhart and City of Gary. Straight-line distance: 70.92 mi (114.13 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 City of Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population80,294
Coordinates41.5956000, -87.3452100
Altitude185
CountryUnited States
Start: Pletcher Court (-85.976539, 41.682026)
End: (-87.34521, 41.5956)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 133 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.92 gal
11.06 L · about $11.01
Round trip
$22.02
5.84 gal · 22.12 L
Estimated CO2
26 kg one way
Round trip: 51.9 kg / 114 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $11.01 $22.02
Mid-grade $4.25 $12.42 $24.84
Premium $4.65 $13.59 $27.18
Diesel $5.30 $15.49 $30.98

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 · Jun 01, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Elkhart, IN and City of Gary, IN. The current time in Elkhart is 19:22:40, although it is 18:22:40 in City of 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.