How far is Gary, IN from Auburn, IN?

The driving distance from Gary, IN to Auburn, IN is about 159.4 miles (256.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 119.4 miles (192.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 54m 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
159.44 mi
02h 57m
Flight
119.44 mi
192.22 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gary.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
119.44 mi
Kilometers
192.22 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
159.44 mi
Kilometers
256.59 km
Drive Time
02h 57m

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 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Auburn
Thu, Apr 23, 4:08 AM EDT
Return by in Gary
Thu, Apr 23, 6:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gary
2026-04-23T00:11
Arrive Auburn
Thu, Apr 23, 3:08 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:57 AM to 1:57 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gary
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
Simonton Lake
IN

Census-designated place in Elkhart County, Indiana

From Gary
79.6 mi
01h 28m
To Auburn
79.8 mi
01h 28m

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 CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Gary and Auburn.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 10th Place

    77 m · 16 sec · 10th Place

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Harrison Boulevard

    638 ft · 18 sec · Harrison Boulevard

  3. 3

    Continue on Harrison Street

    2542 ft · 1 min · Harrison Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West 5th Avenue

    2766 ft · 1 min · West 5th Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Broadway

    1020 ft · 36 sec · Broadway

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right toward I 90 East

    2112 ft · 52 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

    128.8 mi · 2 hr 19 min · Indiana Toll Road

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 69: Angola, Fort Wayne, Lansing

    2252 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    50 m · 4 sec

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    1850 ft · 45 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    594 ft · 15 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    26.4 mi · 28 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 8: Auburn, Garrett

    1298 ft · 25 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    26 m · 4 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 7th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
16 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Indiana Toll Road
129 mi · 81%
I 69
27.4 mi · 17%
West 5th Avenue
0.52 mi
Harrison Street
0.48 mi
I 90 East
0.4 mi
SR 8
0.26 mi
Longest Stretch

Indiana Toll Road

Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

129 mi · 02h 20m

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 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40 mi
119.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Simonton Lake
01h 28m from Gary
Leave By
12:36 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Gary and Mostly Sunny near Auburn.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 159.4 miles (256.6 km) and usually takes 02h 57m 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?

Simonton Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.6 miles from Gary and 79.8 miles from Auburn.

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

The direct path is about 119.4 miles (192.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 40 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 12:36 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.23 one way or $42.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Gary and Mostly Sunny near Auburn.

Stop Ideas Near Simonton Lake

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

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

RAIL

Elkhart station

8 mi away
131 Tyler Avenue
RAIL

Niles station

25 mi away
598 Dey St.
RAIL

South Bend station

27 mi away
2702 West Washington Avenue
RAIL

Dowagiac station

28 mi away
200 Depot Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gary and Auburn. Straight-line distance: 119.44 mi (192.22 km).

Gary

#1 Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population74,693
Coordinates41.5933700, -87.3464300
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Auburn

#2 Auburn

City in DeKalb County, Indiana, United States

Population13,617
Coordinates41.3669900, -85.0588600
Altitude264
CountryUnited States
Start: Gary (-87.34643, 41.59337)
End: Auburn (-85.05886, 41.36699)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 257 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.63 gal
21.3 L · about $21.23
Round trip
$42.46
11.26 gal · 42.6 L
Estimated CO2
50 kg one way
Round trip: 100.1 kg / 221 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.23 $42.46
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.94 $47.89
Premium $4.65 $26.20 $52.40
Diesel $5.30 $29.86 $59.72

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 Gary, IN and Auburn, IN. The current time in Gary is 00:11:15, although it is 01:11:15 in Auburn.

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.