How far is Lafayette, IN from Portage, IN?

The driving distance from Lafayette, IN to Portage, IN is about 97.1 miles (156.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 81.6 miles (131.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 19m 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
97.12 mi
01h 39m
Flight
81.61 mi
131.34 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lafayette.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
81.61 mi
Kilometers
131.34 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
97.12 mi
Kilometers
156.3 km
Drive Time
01h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portage
Thu, May 7, 10:51 AM CDT
Return by in Lafayette
Thu, May 7, 1:31 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lafayette
2026-05-07T10:12
Arrive Portage
Thu, May 7, 11:51 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:40 AM to 10:40 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:10 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lafayette
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
Mount Ayr
IN

Human settlement in Newton County, Indiana, United States of America

From Lafayette
47.5 mi
00h 49m
To Portage
49.6 mi
00h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph W
Destination
58°F
Thursday

Patchy Frost then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    56 m · 16 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Douglas Street

    50 m · 8 sec · Douglas Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Grant Street

    11 m · 7 sec · Grant Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South Street

    151 m · 16 sec · South Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto North 18th Street

    1.6 mi · 4 min · North 18th Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Schuyler Avenue

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Schuyler Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on Hoosier Heartland Highway

    773 ft · 23 sec · Hoosier Heartland Highway

  8. 8

    Turn left onto I 65 North

    1374 ft · 36 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    84 mi · 1 hr 32 min

  10. 10

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

    1.4 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Central Avenue

    1760 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    4.3 mi · 9 min · Central Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Central Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Central Avenue

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 65 North
84.3 mi · 87%
Central Avenue
6.01 mi · 6%
Schuyler Avenue
1.86 mi · 2%
North 18th Street
1.6 mi · 2%
I 80 East
0.87 mi · 1%
Hoosier Heartland Highway
0.15 mi
Longest Stretch

I 65 North

Merge slight left

84 mi · 01h 32m

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 39m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.5 mi
81.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mount Ayr
00h 49m from Lafayette
Leave By
3:10 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Lafayette and Patchy Frost 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 Lafayette to Portage?

The road trip is about 97.1 miles (156.3 km) and usually takes 01h 39m 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?

Mount Ayr is a useful midpoint, sitting about 47.5 miles from Lafayette and 49.6 miles from Portage.

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

The direct path is about 81.6 miles (131.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:10 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.93 one way or $25.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Lafayette and Patchy Frost then Chance Rain Showers near Portage.

Stop Ideas Near Mount Ayr

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

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

RAIL

Rensselaer

12 mi away
619 North Cullen Street
RAIL

Kankakee

51 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Gilman

62 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Dyer station

63 mi away
913 Sheffield Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lafayette and Portage. Straight-line distance: 81.61 mi (131.34 km).

Lafayette

#1 Lafayette

The most populous city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

Population71,484
Coordinates40.4167000, -86.8752900
Altitude211
CountryUnited States
Portage

#2 Portage

The second most populous city in Porter County, Indiana.

Population90,543
Coordinates41.5758700, -87.1761500
Altitude194
CountryUnited States
Start: (-86.875433, 40.416605)
End: Central Avenue (-87.17615, 41.575874)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 156 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.43 gal
12.97 L · about $12.93
Round trip
$25.87
6.86 gal · 25.94 L
Estimated CO2
30.5 kg one way
Round trip: 61 kg / 134 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $12.93 $25.87
Mid-grade $4.25 $14.59 $29.18
Premium $4.65 $15.96 $31.93
Diesel $5.30 $18.19 $36.39

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 07, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Lafayette, IN and Portage, IN. The current time in Lafayette is 10:12:18, although it is 09:12:18 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.