How far is Indianapolis, IN from East Chicago, IN?
The driving distance from Indianapolis, IN to East Chicago, IN is about 158.5 miles (255.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 05m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 146 miles (235 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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 03h 05m.
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.
Township in White County, Indiana
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Indianapolis and East Chicago.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indianapolis and East Chicago.
-
1
Start on the route
78 m · 33 sec
-
2
Turn left onto West Market Street
107 m · 19 sec · West Market Street
-
3
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
1 mi · 3 min · North Illinois Street
-
4
Take the ramp left toward I 65 North: Chicago
869 ft · 21 sec
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5
Merge slight left
28 mi · 33 min
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6
Take the exit slight right toward US 52 West
1281 ft · 16 sec
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7
Keep slight left
786 ft · 10 sec
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8
Merge slight left
120.1 mi · 2 hr 12 min
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9
Turn left onto East 5th Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · East 5th Avenue
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10
Continue on East 4th Avenue
3.7 mi · 6 min · East 4th Avenue
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11
Continue on Airport Road
2.9 mi · 5 min · Airport Road
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12
Keep slight right to continue on US 12 West, SR 912 North: Columbus Drive, Cline Avenue
42 m · 2 sec
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13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Columbus Drive
46 m · 3 sec · East Columbus Drive
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14
Exit the roundabout onto East Columbus Drive
1.2 mi · 2 min · East Columbus Drive
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15
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Columbus Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Indianapolis and East Chicago.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
US 52 West
Merge slight left
120 mi · 02h 12m
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.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Indianapolis and Showers And Thunderstorms near East Chicago.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Indianapolis to East Chicago?
The road trip is about 158.5 miles (255.1 km) and usually takes 03h 05m 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?
Round Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.3 miles from Indianapolis and 79.2 miles from East Chicago.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 146 miles (235 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.5 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:50 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.12 one way or $42.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.8 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Indianapolis and East Chicago, 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 Indianapolis and Showers And Thunderstorms near East Chicago.
Stop Ideas Near Round Grove
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 Round Grove.
Lafayette station
Rensselaer
Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana
Crawfordsville
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Indianapolis and East Chicago. Straight-line distance: 146.02 mi (234.99 km).
#1 Indianapolis
The sixteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Indianapolis metropolitan area.
| Population | 877,903 |
| Coordinates | 39.7683800, -86.1580400 |
| Altitude | 218 |
| Country | United States |
#2 East Chicago
City in Lake County, Indiana, United States
| Population | 27,742 |
| Coordinates | 41.6392000, -87.4547600 |
| Altitude | 180 |
| Country | United States |
End: East Chicago (-87.45476, 41.6392)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 255 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 16m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 57m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 38m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 15m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 58m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $21.12 | $42.24 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $23.82 | $47.63 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $26.06 | $52.12 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $29.70 | $59.40 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.