How far is Portage, IN from Cedar Lake, IN?

The driving distance from Portage, IN to Cedar Lake, IN is about 30.4 miles (49 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20 miles (32.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
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
30.44 mi
00h 53m
Flight
20.03 mi
32.23 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Portage.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.03 mi
Kilometers
32.23 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
30.44 mi
Kilometers
48.99 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

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 00h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cedar Lake
Thu, Apr 30, 11:46 AM CDT
Return by in Portage
Thu, Apr 30, 12:39 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portage
2026-04-30T10:53
Arrive Cedar Lake
Thu, Apr 30, 11:46 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:53 AM to 10:53 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:44 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Portage
9:30 PM CDT
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
Merrillville
IN

Town in Ross Township, Lake County, Indiana

From Portage
15.2 mi
00h 26m
To Cedar Lake
15.2 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNW
Destination
57°F
Thursday

Patchy Frost then Isolated Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Portage and Cedar Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on Central Avenue

    1861 ft · 53 sec · Central Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Willowcreek Road

    2930 ft · 1 min · Willowcreek Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 80, I 90

    132 m · 12 sec

  4. 4

    Keep slight right

    673 ft · 16 sec

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1945 ft · 47 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Indiana Toll Road

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines

    3216 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East

    543 ft · 13 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West, I 80 West

    2.9 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis

    1 km · 52 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South, I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Indianapolis, Chicago

    618 ft · 10 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Indianapolis

    2686 ft · 60 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

    9.7 mi · 12 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward 109th Avenue

    1038 ft · 20 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on 109th Avenue

    1527 ft · 37 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on East 109th Avenue

    1 km · 2 min · East 109th Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Broadway

    2668 ft · 55 sec · Broadway

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West 113th Avenue

    1 km · 2 min · West 113th Avenue

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Joliet Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · East Joliet Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    122 m · 12 sec · South Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto West Clark Street

    90 m · 8 sec · West Clark Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto North Court Street

    73 m · 10 sec · North Court Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto West 109th Avenue

    3.4 mi · 6 min · West 109th Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Cline Avenue

    2.5 mi · 6 min · Cline Avenue

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Lakeshore Drive

    4 m · 1 sec · West Lakeshore Drive

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto West Lakeshore Drive

    1 mi · 2 min · West Lakeshore Drive

  27. 27

    Continue on West 133rd Avenue

    944 ft · 33 sec · West 133rd Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Parrish Avenue

    1537 ft · 48 sec · Parrish Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn left onto West 135th Place

    978 ft · 43 sec · West 135th Place

  30. 30

    Continue on Doffin Street

    1104 ft · 54 sec · Doffin Street

  31. 31

    At the end of the road, turn left onto West 137th Avenue

    1189 ft · 54 sec · West 137th Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn right onto Birch Street

    1403 ft · 1 min · Birch Street

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Lauerman Street

    692 ft · 30 sec · Lauerman Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Lauerman Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
34 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
111.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
9.71 mi · 32%
West 109th Avenue
3.44 mi · 11%
I 94 West
3.04 mi · 10%
Indiana Toll Road
2.55 mi · 8%
Cline Avenue
2.45 mi · 8%
West Lakeshore Drive
1.04 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

9.71 mi · 00h 12m

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
00h 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.4 mi
20 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Merrillville
00h 26m from Portage
Leave By
4:44 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Portage and Patchy Frost then Isolated Rain Showers near Cedar Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Portage to Cedar Lake?

The road trip is about 30.4 miles (49 km) and usually takes 00h 53m 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?

Merrillville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.2 miles from Portage and 15.2 miles from Cedar Lake.

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

The direct path is about 20 miles (32.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.4 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:44 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.07 one way or $8.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Portage and Patchy Frost then Isolated Rain Showers near Cedar Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Merrillville

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

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

BUS

Gary, IN

14 mi away
100 West 4th Avenue
RAIL

Dyer station

16 mi away
913 Sheffield Avenue
RAIL

Hammond–Whiting station

28 mi away
1135 South Calumet Ave.
RAIL

Homewood

29 mi away
18015 Park Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portage and Cedar Lake. Straight-line distance: 20.03 mi (32.23 km).

Portage

#1 Portage

The second most populous city in Porter County, Indiana.

Population90,543
Coordinates41.5758700, -87.1761500
Altitude194
CountryUnited States
Cedar Lake

#2 Cedar Lake

Town in Lake County, Indiana, United States

Population13,588
Coordinates41.3647600, -87.4411500
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Start: Portage (-87.17615, 41.57587)
End: Cedar Lake (-87.44115, 41.36476)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 49 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.08 gal
4.07 L · about $4.07
Round trip
$8.15
2.16 gal · 8.14 L
Estimated CO2
9.6 kg one way
Round trip: 19.2 kg / 42 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.07 $8.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.59 $9.19
Premium $4.65 $5.03 $10.05
Diesel $5.30 $5.73 $11.46

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Portage and Cedar Lake. The current time is 10:53:07.

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.