How far is Gary, IN from Spencer, IN?

The driving distance from Gary, IN to Spencer, IN is about 201 miles (323.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 162.3 miles (261.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 52m 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
200.93 mi
03h 56m
Flight
162.3 mi
261.2 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
162.3 mi
Kilometers
261.2 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
200.93 mi
Kilometers
323.36 km
Drive Time
03h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Spencer
Thu, Apr 23, 11:58 AM EDT
Return by in Gary
Thu, Apr 23, 2:55 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gary
2026-04-23T07:02
Arrive Spencer
Thu, Apr 23, 10:58 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:56 AM to 12:56 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
9:08 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Clarks Hill
IN

City in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States of America

From Gary
100.5 mi
01h 58m
To Spencer
100.5 mi
01h 58m

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
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    128.7 mi · 2 hr 20 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 465 South

    1210 ft · 30 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on I 465 South

    1 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    9.5 mi · 11 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis

    1336 ft · 33 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 West: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport

    2.6 mi · 5 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Saint Louis

    1755 ft · 43 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    28.7 mi · 31 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 231: Cloverdale, Greencastle

    1958 ft · 37 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    55 m · 4 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Main Street

  22. 22

    Continue on S Main St

    1681 ft · 29 sec · S Main St

  23. 23

    Continue on US Highway 231

    8.3 mi · 11 min · US Highway 231

  24. 24

    Continue on US Highway 231

    7.5 mi · 11 min · US Highway 231

  25. 25

    Continue on Fletcher Avenue

    1442 ft · 41 sec · Fletcher Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn right onto East Morgan Street

    1821 ft · 59 sec · East Morgan Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    37 m · 3 sec · North Main Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
135 mi · 67%
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
28.7 mi · 14%
US Highway 231
15.8 mi · 8%
I 465 South
10.3 mi · 5%
I 70 West
2.97 mi · 1%
Martin Luther King Drive
2.45 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

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 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.7 mi
162.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clarks Hill
01h 58m from Gary
Leave By
9:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Gary and Sunny near Spencer.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 201 miles (323.4 km) and usually takes 03h 56m 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?

Clarks Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 100.5 miles from Gary and 100.5 miles from Spencer.

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

The direct path is about 162.3 miles (261.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.7 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 9:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.74 one way or $53.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 63 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Gary and Spencer, 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 Sunny near Spencer.

Stop Ideas Near Clarks Hill

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Clarks Hill and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town of Mulberry - Town Hall & Municipal Utilities
Scenic stop 4.1 mi away

Town of Mulberry - Town Hall & Municipal Utilities

Mulberry , IN
123 S Glick St, Mulberry, IN 46058, United States
Park,Municipal corporation,City or town hall,Public library,Water works
Lafayette City Hall
Meeting point 11.9 mi away

Lafayette City Hall

Lafayette , IN
20 N 6th St, Lafayette, IN 47901
Rating 5.0/5 3 reviews City Hall,City government office
Morton Community Center
Nearby stop 12.8 mi away

Morton Community Center

West Lafayette , IN
222 N Chauncey Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47906
Rating 4.1/5 7 reviews Community center,Dance school

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Clarks Hill.

BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

24 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Lafayette station

24 mi away
200 North 2nd St.
RAIL

Crawfordsville

27 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
RAIL

Indianapolis Union Station

72 mi away
350 South Illinois Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gary and Spencer. Straight-line distance: 162.3 mi (261.2 km).

Gary

#1 Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

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

#2 Spencer

Town in Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana, United States

Population2,262
Coordinates39.2867100, -86.7625100
Altitude171
CountryUnited States
Start: Gary (-87.34643, 41.59337)
End: Spencer (-86.76251, 39.28671)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 323 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.09 gal
26.84 L · about $26.74
Round trip
$53.47
14.18 gal · 53.68 L
Estimated CO2
63 kg one way
Round trip: 126 kg / 278 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.74 $53.47
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.15 $60.31
Premium $4.65 $33.00 $65.99
Diesel $5.30 $37.61 $75.21

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 Spencer, IN. The current time in Gary is 07:02:26, although it is 08:02:26 in Spencer.

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.