How far is Gary, IN from Valparaiso, IN?

The driving distance from Gary, IN to Valparaiso, IN is about 20 miles (32.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 17 miles (27.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
20.03 mi
00h 36m
Flight
16.93 mi
27.25 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gary.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
16.93 mi
Kilometers
27.25 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
20.03 mi
Kilometers
32.24 km
Drive Time
00h 36m

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 00h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Valparaiso
Thu, Apr 23, 2:46 AM CDT
Return by in Gary
Thu, Apr 23, 3:23 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gary
2026-04-23T02:09
Arrive Valparaiso
Thu, Apr 23, 2:46 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:37 AM to 7:37 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:16 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Gary
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Hobart
IN

City in Lake County, Indiana, United States of America

From Gary
10 mi
00h 18m
To Valparaiso
10 mi
00h 18m

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
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    4.6 mi · 8 min · Central Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Ripley Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Ripley Street

  8. 8

    Continue on North Hobart Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · North Hobart Road

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn right

    6 m · 1 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left

    29 m · 2 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right

    67 m · 4 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    8 mi · 12 min

  13. 13

    Continue on West Lincolnway

    2.5 mi · 5 min · West Lincolnway

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Campbell Street

    1481 ft · 46 sec · Campbell Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Haas Street

    650 ft · 36 sec · Haas Street

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Napoleon Street

    136 m · 22 sec · Napoleon Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Walnut Street

    656 ft · 29 sec · Walnut Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Walnut Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
18 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
90 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Hobart Road
9.45 mi · 47%
Central Avenue
4.59 mi · 23%
West Lincolnway
2.5 mi · 12%
Ripley Street
1.17 mi · 6%
West 15th Avenue
1.04 mi · 5%
Campbell Street
0.28 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

North Hobart Road

Continue straight

7.97 mi · 00h 12m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 36m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3 mi
17 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hobart
00h 18m from Gary
Leave By
7:16 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Gary and Mostly Sunny near Valparaiso.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 20 miles (32.2 km) and usually takes 00h 36m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hobart is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10 miles from Gary and 10 miles from Valparaiso.

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

The direct path is about 17 miles (27.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:16 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.68 one way or $5.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Hobart

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

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

BUS

Gary, IN

11 mi away
100 West 4th Avenue
RAIL

Dyer station

22 mi away
913 Sheffield Avenue
RAIL

Hammond–Whiting station

28 mi away
1135 South Calumet Ave.
RAIL

Homewood

35 mi away
18015 Park Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gary and Valparaiso. Straight-line distance: 16.93 mi (27.25 km).

Gary

#1 Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

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

#2 Valparaiso

Town in Porter County, Indiana, United States

Population33,944
Coordinates41.4730900, -87.0611400
Altitude242
CountryUnited States
Start: Gary (-87.34643, 41.59337)
End: Valparaiso (-87.06114, 41.47309)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 32 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.71 gal
2.68 L · about $2.68
Round trip
$5.35
1.42 gal · 5.36 L
Estimated CO2
6.3 kg one way
Round trip: 12.6 kg / 28 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $2.68 $5.35
Mid-grade $4.25 $3.02 $6.04
Premium $4.65 $3.30 $6.61
Diesel $5.30 $3.77 $7.53

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

There is no time difference between Gary and Valparaiso. The current time is 02:09:57.

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.