How far is Gary, IN from Madison, IN?
The driving distance from Gary, IN to Madison, IN is about 242.6 miles (390.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 57m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 223.1 miles (359 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 04h 57m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Human settlement in Boone County, Indiana, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny
Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Gary and Madison.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gary and Madison.
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1
Start on 10th Place
17 m · 4 sec · 10th Place
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2
Turn right onto Harrison Street
146 m · 28 sec · Harrison Street
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3
Turn left onto West 11th Avenue
1250 ft · 39 sec · West 11th Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Madison Street
1406 ft · 48 sec · Madison Street
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5
Turn left onto West 15th Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · West 15th Avenue
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6
Continue on Central Avenue
854 ft · 22 sec · Central Avenue
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7
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Drive
2.5 mi · 5 min · Martin Luther King Drive
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8
Turn left onto East Ridge Road
1276 ft · 35 sec · East Ridge Road
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9
Take the ramp slight right
1469 ft · 36 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
128.7 mi · 2 hr 20 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
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11
Keep slight left
17.1 mi · 22 min
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12
Continue on I 70 East: Dayton
1.9 mi · 3 min
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13
Keep slight left
41.9 mi · 47 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward SR 46: Columbus, Nashville, Bloomington
855 ft · 19 sec
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15
Keep slight left
591 ft · 16 sec
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16
Merge slight right onto Jonathan Moore Pike
2.7 mi · 6 min · Jonathan Moore Pike
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17
Continue on State Street
3.9 mi · 6 min · State Street
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18
Continue straight
18.5 mi · 29 min
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19
Turn slight left onto One Street
87 m · 5 sec · One Street
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20
Continue on Jackson Street
851 ft · 14 sec · Jackson Street
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21
Turn straight
1476 ft · 27 sec
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22
Keep slight left
19.9 mi · 30 min
-
23
Turn slight right
130 m · 8 sec
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24
Turn right onto Cragmont Street
1.7 mi · 3 min · Cragmont Street
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25
Turn left onto West Main Street
1.2 km · 1 min · West Main Street
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26
Turn right onto West Street
56 m · 9 sec · West Street
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27
Turn left
22 m · 5 sec
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Gary and Madison.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
129 mi · 02h 20m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny leaving Gary and Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Madison.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Gary to Madison?
The road trip is about 242.6 miles (390.5 km) and usually takes 04h 57m 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?
Ulen is a useful midpoint, sitting about 121.4 miles from Gary and 121.3 miles from Madison.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 223.1 miles (359 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.5 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 7:04 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.28 one way or $64.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.1 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Gary and Madison, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny around Gary and Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Madison.
Stop Ideas Near Ulen
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ulen.
Crawfordsville
Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana
Indianapolis Union Station
Lafayette station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Gary and Madison. Straight-line distance: 223.05 mi (358.97 km).
#1 Gary
The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.
| Population | 74,693 |
| Coordinates | 41.5933700, -87.3464300 |
| Altitude | 183 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Madison
County seat of Jefferson County, Indiana, United States
| Population | 11,750 |
| Coordinates | 38.7358900, -85.3799600 |
| Altitude | 149 |
| Country | United States |
End: Madison (-85.37996, 38.73589)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 391 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 05m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 04m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 51m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 02m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 01m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $32.28 | $64.56 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $36.41 | $72.81 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $39.84 | $79.68 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $45.40 | $90.80 |
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 10, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.