How far is Lawrence, IN from Merrillville, IN?

The driving distance from Lawrence, IN to Merrillville, IN is about 147.1 miles (236.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 132.7 miles (213.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 28m 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
147.05 mi
02h 44m
Flight
132.67 mi
213.51 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lawrence.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
132.67 mi
Kilometers
213.51 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
147.05 mi
Kilometers
236.66 km
Drive Time
02h 44m

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 02h 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Merrillville
Tue, May 26, 1:58 AM CDT
Return by in Lawrence
Tue, May 26, 5:42 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lawrence
2026-05-26T00:13
Arrive Merrillville
Tue, May 26, 2:58 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:44 AM to 11:44 AM CDT

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

Leave by
1:02 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lawrence
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
Battle Ground
IN

Town in Indiana, United States

From Lawrence
73.5 mi
01h 22m
To Merrillville
73.5 mi
01h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph ESE
Destination
82°F
Memorial Day

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lawrence and Merrillville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence and Merrillville.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    37 m · 11 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto McCoy Street

    150 m · 17 sec · McCoy Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Pendleton Pike

    3160 ft · 1 min · Pendleton Pike

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 465 North

    1668 ft · 42 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    3.8 mi · 4 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    1477 ft · 20 sec

  7. 7

    Continue on I-465 WB

    1.3 km · 57 sec · I-465 WB

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    10.9 mi · 13 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 865 West: Chicago

    5 mi · 6 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    12.3 mi · 13 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 52 West

    1281 ft · 16 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    786 ft · 10 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    110.4 mi · 1 hr 59 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 30: Merrillville, Hobart, Valparaiso

    1618 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on US 30: Merrillville, Hobart, Valparaiso, VA Clinic

    138 m · 15 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto US 30: Merrillville, Hobart, Valparaiso

    33 m · 4 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto East 81st Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · East 81st Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Broadway

    1.4 km · 2 min · Broadway

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Indian Trail

    1156 ft · 51 sec · Indian Trail

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Indian Trail

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lawrence and Merrillville.

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
20 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 52 West
111 mi · 75%
I 865 West
17.2 mi · 12%
I-465 WB
11.7 mi · 8%
I 465 North
4.38 mi · 3%
Broadway
0.89 mi · 1%
East 81st Avenue
0.71 mi
Longest Stretch

US 52 West

Merge slight left

110 mi · 01h 59m

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
02h 44m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.4 mi
132.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Battle Ground
01h 22m from Lawrence
Leave By
1:02 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lawrence and Sunny near Merrillville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lawrence to Merrillville?

The road trip is about 147.1 miles (236.7 km) and usually takes 02h 44m 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?

Battle Ground is a useful midpoint, sitting about 73.5 miles from Lawrence and 73.5 miles from Merrillville.

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

The direct path is about 132.7 miles (213.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.4 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 1:02 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.57 one way or $39.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lawrence and Sunny near Merrillville.

Stop Ideas Near Battle Ground

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

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

RAIL

Lafayette station

11 mi away
200 North 2nd St.
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

48 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Crawfordsville

52 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
RAIL

Rensselaer

55 mi away
619 North Cullen Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lawrence and Merrillville. Straight-line distance: 132.67 mi (213.51 km).

Lawrence

#1 Lawrence

A city in Marion County, Indiana.

Population49,545
Coordinates39.8386500, -86.0252600
Altitude266
CountryUnited States
Merrillville

#2 Merrillville

Town in Ross Township, Lake County, Indiana

Population34,916
Coordinates41.4828100, -87.3328100
Altitude200
CountryUnited States
Start: Lawrence (-86.02526, 39.83865)
End: Merrillville (-87.33281, 41.48281)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 237 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.19 gal
19.64 L · about $19.57
Round trip
$39.14
10.38 gal · 39.28 L
Estimated CO2
46.1 kg one way
Round trip: 92.2 kg / 203 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $19.57 $39.14
Mid-grade $4.25 $22.07 $44.15
Premium $4.65 $24.15 $48.31
Diesel $5.30 $27.53 $55.06

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 26, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Lawrence, IN and Merrillville, IN. The current time in Lawrence is 00:13:35, although it is 23:13:35 in Merrillville.

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.