How far is Portage, IN from Smith, IN?

The driving distance from Portage, IN to Smith, IN is about 32.5 miles (52.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.8 miles (44.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
32.49 mi
00h 43m
Flight
27.79 mi
44.72 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Portage.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
27.79 mi
Kilometers
44.72 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
32.49 mi
Kilometers
52.28 km
Drive Time
00h 43m

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 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Smith
Fri, Oct 16, 12:19 AM CDT
Return by in Portage
Fri, Oct 16, 1:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portage
2026-10-15T23:36
Arrive Smith
Fri, Oct 16, 12:19 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:43 AM to 7:43 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:04 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Portage
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Town of Pines
IN

Town of the United States

From Portage
16.2 mi
00h 21m
To Smith
16.3 mi
00h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE
Destination
66°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 12:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Central Avenue

    1861 ft · 53 sec · Central Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Willowcreek Road

    1 km · 1 min · Willowcreek Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Crisman Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Crisman Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East: Detroit

    2268 ft · 55 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    20.3 mi · 22 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East, US 35 South: La Porte, South Bend

    2175 ft · 55 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    6.7 mi · 9 min

  8. 8

    Turn left onto North Fail Road

    2.4 mi · 6 min · North Fail Road

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Fail Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
9 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 East
20.7 mi · 64%
US 20 East
7.1 mi · 22%
North Fail Road
2.4 mi · 7%
Crisman Road
1.25 mi · 4%
Willowcreek Road
0.63 mi · 2%
Central Avenue
0.35 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 94 East

Merge slight left

20.3 mi · 00h 22m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 43m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.7 mi
27.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Town of Pines
00h 21m from Portage
Leave By
7:04 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Portage and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Smith.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 32.5 miles (52.3 km) and usually takes 00h 43m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Town of Pines is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.2 miles from Portage and 16.3 miles from Smith.

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

The direct path is about 27.8 miles (44.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:04 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.44 one way or $8.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Portage and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Smith.

Stop Ideas Near Town of Pines

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Town of Pines, 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 Town of Pines.

RAIL

Michigan City

6 mi away
100 Washington St.
RAIL

New Buffalo

22 mi away
226 North Whittaker Street
RAIL

New Buffalo, Michigan

22 mi away
517 South Whittaker Street
BUS

Gary, IN

33 mi away
100 West 4th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portage and Smith. Straight-line distance: 27.79 mi (44.72 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 Smith

Unincorporated community in Indiana, United States

Population368
Coordinates41.7108800, -86.6691900
Altitude242
CountryUnited States
Start: Portage (-87.17615, 41.57587)
End: Smith (-86.66919, 41.71088)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 52 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.15 gal
4.34 L · about $4.44
Round trip
$8.88
2.3 gal · 8.68 L
Estimated CO2
10.2 kg one way
Round trip: 20.4 kg / 45 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.86 $4.44 $8.88
Mid-grade $4.46 $5.12 $10.25
Premium $4.99 $5.74 $11.47
Diesel $6.62 $7.61 $15.23

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Portage and Smith. The current time is 23:36:32.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.