How far is Gary, IN from Simonton Lake, IN?

The driving distance from Gary, IN to Simonton Lake, IN is about 80.7 miles (129.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 71.6 miles (115.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 04m 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
80.64 mi
01h 32m
Flight
71.64 mi
115.3 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
71.64 mi
Kilometers
115.3 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
80.64 mi
Kilometers
129.77 km
Drive Time
01h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Simonton Lake
Thu, Apr 16, 5:56 AM EDT
Return by in Gary
Thu, Apr 16, 6:28 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gary
2026-04-16T03:23
Arrive Simonton Lake
Thu, Apr 16, 4:56 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:32 AM to 12:32 PM EDT

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

Leave by
3:26 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
Smith
IN

Unincorporated community in Indiana, United States

From Gary
40.3 mi
00h 46m
To Simonton Lake
40.4 mi
00h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph WSW
Destination
71°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gary and Simonton Lake.

  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

    76.7 mi · 1 hr 24 min · Indiana Toll Road

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 19: Elkhart

    1.2 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    568 ft · 18 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Cassopolis Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Cassopolis Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cassopolis Street

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Indiana Toll Road
76.7 mi · 95%
Cassopolis Street
1.35 mi · 2%
SR 19
0.87 mi · 1%
West 5th Avenue
0.52 mi · 1%
Harrison Street
0.48 mi · 1%
I 90 East
0.4 mi
Longest Stretch

Indiana Toll Road

Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

76.7 mi · 01h 24m

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 32m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.1 mi
71.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Smith
00h 46m from Gary
Leave By
3:26 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Gary and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Simonton Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gary to Simonton Lake?

The road trip is about 80.7 miles (129.8 km) and usually takes 01h 32m 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 40.3 miles from Gary and 40.4 miles from Simonton Lake.

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

The direct path is about 71.6 miles (115.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.1 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:26 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.75 one way or $21.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Gary and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Simonton Lake.

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 Gary and Simonton Lake. Straight-line distance: 71.64 mi (115.3 km).

Gary

#1 Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population74,693
Coordinates41.5933700, -87.3464300
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Simonton Lake

#2 Simonton Lake

Census-designated place in Elkhart County, Indiana

Population4,678
Coordinates41.7542200, -85.9750000
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Start: Gary (-87.34643, 41.59337)
End: Simonton Lake (-85.975, 41.75422)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 130 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.85 gal
10.77 L · about $10.75
Round trip
$21.49
5.7 gal · 21.54 L
Estimated CO2
25.3 kg one way
Round trip: 50.7 kg / 112 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $10.75 $21.49
Mid-grade $4.25 $12.12 $24.24
Premium $4.65 $13.26 $26.53
Diesel $5.30 $15.12 $30.23

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 16, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Gary, IN and Simonton Lake, IN. The current time in Gary is 03:23:44, although it is 04:23:44 in Simonton Lake.

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.