How far is Jefferson, IN from Portage, IN?

The driving distance from Jefferson, IN to Portage, IN is about 113.7 miles (183 km), with a travel time of about 01h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 94.6 miles (152.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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
113.69 mi
01h 50m
Flight
94.65 mi
152.33 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jefferson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
94.65 mi
Kilometers
152.33 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
113.69 mi
Kilometers
182.97 km
Drive Time
01h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portage
Tue, May 5, 1:31 AM CDT
Return by in Jefferson
Tue, May 5, 4:21 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jefferson
2026-05-05T00:41
Arrive Portage
Tue, May 5, 2:31 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:50 AM to 10:50 AM CDT

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

Leave by
2:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jefferson
9:30 PM EDT
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
Rensselaer
IN

City in Indiana

From Jefferson
56.2 mi
00h 55m
To Portage
57.5 mi
00h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
16 mph WSW
Destination
76°F
Monday

Sunny then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Jefferson and Portage.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson and Portage.

  1. 1

    Start on Washington Street

    669 ft · 20 sec · Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn right

    3.6 mi · 5 min

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right

    1503 ft · 37 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    101.4 mi · 1 hr 51 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit

    1.4 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Central Avenue

    1760 ft · 38 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    4.3 mi · 9 min · Central Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on Central Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Central Avenue

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jefferson and Portage.

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
9 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Washington Street
102 mi · 90%
Central Avenue
6.01 mi · 5%
I 80 East
0.87 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Washington Street

Merge slight left

101 mi · 01h 51m

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 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.1 mi
94.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rensselaer
00h 55m from Jefferson
Leave By
2:50 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Jefferson and Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Portage.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Jefferson to Portage?

The road trip is about 113.7 miles (183 km) and usually takes 01h 50m 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?

Rensselaer is a useful midpoint, sitting about 56.2 miles from Jefferson and 57.5 miles from Portage.

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

The direct path is about 94.6 miles (152.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.1 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:50 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.12 one way or $30.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 35.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Jefferson and Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Portage.

Stop Ideas Near Rensselaer

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

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

RAIL

Rensselaer

1 mi away
619 North Cullen Street
RAIL

Lafayette station

61 mi away
200 North 2nd St.
RAIL

Kankakee

63 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Dyer station

70 mi away
913 Sheffield Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jefferson and Portage. Straight-line distance: 94.65 mi (152.33 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Jefferson

Unincorporated community in Clinton County, Indiana

Population2,523
Coordinates40.2794800, -86.5900000
Altitude262
CountryUnited States
Portage

#2 Portage

The second most populous city in Porter County, Indiana.

Population90,543
Coordinates41.5758700, -87.1761500
Altitude194
CountryUnited States
Start: Washington Street (-86.589977, 40.27948)
End: Central Avenue (-87.17615, 41.575874)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 183 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.01 gal
15.19 L · about $15.12
Round trip
$30.24
8.02 gal · 30.38 L
Estimated CO2
35.6 kg one way
Round trip: 71.3 kg / 157 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $15.12 $30.24
Mid-grade $4.25 $17.05 $34.11
Premium $4.65 $18.66 $37.33
Diesel $5.30 $21.27 $42.54

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 · May 05, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Jefferson, IN and Portage, IN. The current time in Jefferson is 00:41:17, although it is 23:41:17 in Portage.

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.