How far is Portage, IN from Madison, IN?

The driving distance from Portage, IN to Madison, IN is about 248.1 miles (399.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 217.9 miles (350.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
248.13 mi
05h 03m
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 Portage.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
248.13 mi
Kilometers
399.32 km
Drive Time
05h 03m

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 05h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Madison
Tue, May 12, 11:08 PM EDT
Return by in Portage
Wed, May 13, 3:11 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portage
2026-05-12T17:05
Arrive Madison
Tue, May 12, 10:08 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:03 PM to 2:03 PM EDT

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

Leave by
6:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Portage
9:00 PM CDT
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 Portage
124.1 mi
02h 31m
To Madison
124 mi
02h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Tuesday

Patchy Frost then Rain Likely

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
75°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 · 11 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

    130 mi · 2 hr 21 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    17.1 mi · 22 min

  15. 15

    Continue on I 70 East: Dayton

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    41.9 mi · 47 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 46: Columbus, Nashville, Bloomington

    855 ft · 19 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    591 ft · 16 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight right onto Jonathan Moore Pike

    2.7 mi · 6 min · Jonathan Moore Pike

  20. 20

    Continue on State Street

    3.9 mi · 6 min · State Street

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    18.5 mi · 29 min

  22. 22

    Turn slight left onto One Street

    87 m · 5 sec · One Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Jackson Street

    851 ft · 14 sec · Jackson Street

  24. 24

    Turn straight

    1476 ft · 27 sec

  25. 25

    Keep slight left

    19.9 mi · 30 min

  26. 26

    Turn slight right

    130 m · 8 sec

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Cragmont Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Cragmont Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto West Street

    56 m · 9 sec · West Street

  30. 30

    Turn left

    22 m · 5 sec

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
31 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
147 mi · 59%
I 70 East
43.9 mi · 18%
State Street
22.3 mi · 9%
Jackson Street
20.1 mi · 8%
I 94 West
3.04 mi · 1%
Jonathan Moore Pike
2.73 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway

130 mi · 02h 21m

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
05h 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.2 mi
217.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pike
02h 31m from Portage
Leave By
6:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 248.1 miles (399.3 km) and usually takes 05h 03m 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 124.1 miles from Portage and 124 miles from Madison.

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 30.2 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.00 one way or $65.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Portage and Madison. Straight-line distance: 217.93 mi (350.73 km).

Portage

#1 Portage

The second most populous city in Porter County, Indiana.

Population90,543
Coordinates41.5758700, -87.1761500
Altitude194
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Madison

County seat of Jefferson County, Indiana, United States

Population11,750
Coordinates38.7358900, -85.3799600
Altitude149
CountryUnited States
Start: Portage (-87.17615, 41.57587)
End: Madison (-85.37996, 38.73589)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 399 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.75 gal
33.14 L · about $33.00
Round trip
$65.99
17.5 gal · 66.28 L
Estimated CO2
77.8 kg one way
Round trip: 155.5 kg / 343 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.00 $65.99
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.21 $74.43
Premium $4.65 $40.72 $81.45
Diesel $5.30 $46.41 $92.82

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 Portage, IN and Madison, IN. The current time in Portage is 17:05:03, although it is 18:05:03 in Madison.

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.