How far is Madison, IN from Portage, IN?

The driving distance from Madison, IN to Portage, IN is about 262.2 miles (421.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 217.9 miles (350.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
262.18 mi
04h 20m
Flight
217.93 mi
350.73 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Madison.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
217.93 mi
Kilometers
350.73 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
262.18 mi
Kilometers
421.93 km
Drive Time
04h 20m

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 04h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portage
Tue, May 12, 8:59 PM CDT
Return by in Madison
Wed, May 13, 2:20 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Madison
2026-05-12T17:39
Arrive Portage
Tue, May 12, 9:59 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:21 AM to 11:21 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:18 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Madison
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Pike
IN

Unincorporated community in Boone County, Indiana

From Madison
123.1 mi
02h 10m
To Portage
139.1 mi
02h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph S
Destination
78°F
Tuesday

Patchy Frost then Rain Likely

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    22 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Street

    56 m · 9 sec · West Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Cragmont Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Cragmont Street

  5. 5

    Turn left

    1684 ft · 29 sec

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Lanier Drive

    20.1 mi · 30 min · Lanier Drive

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Poplar Street

    972 ft · 16 sec · Poplar Street

  8. 8

    Continue on State Roads 3 & 7

    2833 ft · 2 min · State Roads 3 & 7

  9. 9

    Continue on South State Street

    17.8 mi · 27 min · South State Street

  10. 10

    Continue on State Street

    3.9 mi · 6 min · State Street

  11. 11

    Continue on 3rd Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 3rd Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Jonathan Moore Pike

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Jonathan Moore Pike

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Indianapolis

    1413 ft · 41 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    43.2 mi · 49 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    29.8 mi · 36 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 52 West

    1281 ft · 16 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    786 ft · 10 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    117.5 mi · 2 hr 8 min

  19. 19

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

    1.4 km · 1 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Central Avenue

    1760 ft · 38 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    4.3 mi · 9 min · Central Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on Central Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Central Avenue

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Madison 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
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 52 West
118 mi · 45%
I 65 North
73.3 mi · 28%
Lanier Drive
20.1 mi · 8%
South State Street
17.8 mi · 7%
Central Avenue
6.01 mi · 2%
State Street
3.85 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 52 West

Merge slight left

118 mi · 02h 08m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.3 mi
217.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pike
02h 10m from Madison
Leave By
8:18 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Madison and Patchy Frost then Rain Likely near Portage.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 262.2 miles (421.9 km) and usually takes 04h 20m 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?

Pike is a useful midpoint, sitting about 123.1 miles from Madison and 139.1 miles from Portage.

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

The direct path is about 217.9 miles (350.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:18 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.88 one way or $69.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Madison and Patchy Frost then Rain Likely near Portage.

Stop Ideas Near Pike

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

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

BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

36 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Crawfordsville

37 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
RAIL

Lafayette station

48 mi away
200 North 2nd St.
RAIL

Indianapolis Union Station

49 mi away
350 South Illinois Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Madison and Portage. Straight-line distance: 217.93 mi (350.73 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Madison

County seat of Jefferson County, Indiana, United States

Population11,750
Coordinates38.7358900, -85.3799600
Altitude149
CountryUnited States
Portage

#2 Portage

The second most populous city in Porter County, Indiana.

Population90,543
Coordinates41.5758700, -87.1761500
Altitude194
CountryUnited States
Start: (-85.379958, 38.735738)
End: Central Avenue (-87.17615, 41.575874)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 422 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.25 gal
35.02 L · about $34.88
Round trip
$69.76
18.5 gal · 70.04 L
Estimated CO2
82.2 kg one way
Round trip: 164.4 kg / 362 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.88 $69.76
Mid-grade $4.25 $39.34 $78.68
Premium $4.65 $43.05 $86.10
Diesel $5.30 $49.06 $98.12

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 12, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Madison, IN and Portage, IN. The current time in Madison is 17:39:00, although it is 16:39:00 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.