How far is Gary, IN from Jonesboro, IN?

The driving distance from Gary, IN to Jonesboro, IN is about 157.1 miles (252.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 118.1 miles (190 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
157.11 mi
03h 20m
Flight
118.08 mi
190.03 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gary.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
118.08 mi
Kilometers
190.03 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
157.11 mi
Kilometers
252.85 km
Drive Time
03h 20m

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 03h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jonesboro
Wed, May 20, 9:06 PM EDT
Return by in Gary
Wed, May 20, 11:27 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gary
2026-05-20T16:45
Arrive Jonesboro
Wed, May 20, 8:06 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gary
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Brookston
IN

City in St.

From Gary
78.5 mi
01h 40m
To Jonesboro
78.6 mi
01h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Wednesday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, May 20 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph N
Destination
65°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, May 20 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 10th Place

    17 m · 4 sec · 10th Place

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Harrison Street

    146 m · 28 sec · Harrison Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West 11th Avenue

    1250 ft · 39 sec · West 11th Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Madison Street

    1406 ft · 48 sec · Madison Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto West 15th Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · West 15th Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Central Avenue

    854 ft · 22 sec · Central Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Martin Luther King Drive

    2.5 mi · 5 min · Martin Luther King Drive

  8. 8

    Turn left onto East Ridge Road

    1276 ft · 35 sec · East Ridge Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right

    1469 ft · 36 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

    85.7 mi · 1 hr 33 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 26: Rossville, Lafayette

    1398 ft · 32 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left

    57.5 mi · 1 hr 25 min

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Strawtown Pike

    4.6 mi · 5 min · Strawtown Pike

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West 500 S

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West 500 S

  15. 15

    Continue on East Hi Way Drive

    2.6 mi · 4 min · East Hi Way Drive

  16. 16

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1 km · 2 min · North Main Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
85.7 mi · 55%
Strawtown Pike
4.59 mi · 3%
East Hi Way Drive
2.56 mi · 2%
Martin Luther King Drive
2.45 mi · 2%
West 500 S
1.12 mi · 1%
West 15th Avenue
1.04 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

85.7 mi · 01h 33m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39 mi
118.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brookston
01h 40m from Gary
Leave By
10:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Gary and Chance Rain Showers near Jonesboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 157.1 miles (252.8 km) and usually takes 03h 20m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Brookston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 78.5 miles from Gary and 78.6 miles from Jonesboro.

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

The direct path is about 118.1 miles (190 km), while the road route adds roughly 39 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.89 one way or $41.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Gary and Chance Rain Showers near Jonesboro.

Stop Ideas Near Brookston

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

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

RAIL

Lafayette station

20 mi away
200 North 2nd St.
RAIL

Rensselaer

45 mi away
619 North Cullen Street
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

59 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Crawfordsville

62 mi away
Spring and Green Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gary and Jonesboro. Straight-line distance: 118.08 mi (190.03 km).

Gary

#1 Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population74,693
Coordinates41.5933700, -87.3464300
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Jonesboro

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

Population1,629
Coordinates40.4797600, -85.6277500
Altitude260
CountryUnited States
Start: Gary (-87.34643, 41.59337)
End: Jonesboro (-85.62775, 40.47976)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 253 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.54 gal
20.99 L · about $20.89
Round trip
$41.78
11.08 gal · 41.98 L
Estimated CO2
49.2 kg one way
Round trip: 98.5 kg / 217 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.89 $41.78
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.56 $47.12
Premium $4.65 $25.78 $51.57
Diesel $5.30 $29.38 $58.77

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 · May 20, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Gary, IN and Jonesboro, IN. The current time in Gary is 16:45:41, although it is 17:45:41 in Jonesboro.

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.