How far is Portage, IN from Union, IN?

The driving distance from Portage, IN to Union, IN is about 287.8 miles (463.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 215.4 miles (346.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 58m 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
287.75 mi
05h 29m
Flight
215.35 mi
346.58 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
215.35 mi
Kilometers
346.58 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
287.75 mi
Kilometers
463.09 km
Drive Time
05h 29m

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 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Union
Thu, Apr 23, 6:52 AM EDT
Return by in Portage
Thu, Apr 23, 11:21 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portage
2026-04-23T00:23
Arrive Union
Thu, Apr 23, 5:52 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:29 PM to 2:29 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
6:02 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
Zionsville
IN

Town of Indiana

From Portage
143.9 mi
02h 44m
To Union
143.8 mi
02h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

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

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 465 South

    1210 ft · 30 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on I 465 South

    1 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    13.7 mi · 16 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 69 South: Evansville

    1.3 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    47.5 mi · 53 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on I 69 South: Evansville

    68.2 mi · 1 hr 13 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 56, SR 61: Petersburg, Jasper

    1893 ft · 38 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right

    1.4 mi · 3 min

  23. 23

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    2704 ft · 1 min · East Main Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto West Pike Avenue

    6.6 mi · 12 min · West Pike Avenue

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    3 mi · 5 min

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
136 mi · 47%
I 69 South
116 mi · 40%
I 465 South
14.6 mi · 5%
West Pike Avenue
9.62 mi · 3%
I 94 West
3.04 mi · 1%
Indiana Toll Road
2.55 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 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+72.4 mi
215.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Zionsville
02h 44m from Portage
Leave By
6:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Portage and Mostly Sunny near Union.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 287.8 miles (463.1 km) and usually takes 05h 29m 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?

Zionsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 143.9 miles from Portage and 143.8 miles from Union.

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

The direct path is about 215.4 miles (346.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 72.4 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.28 one way or $76.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Portage and Mostly Sunny near Union.

Stop Ideas Near Zionsville

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Zionsville and the surrounding midpoint area.
Avon Town Hall Park
Scenic stop 10.1 mi away

Avon Town Hall Park

Avon , IN
6570 E US Hwy 36, Avon, IN 46123, United States
Rating 4.7/5 886 reviews Tourist attraction,City park
Carmel City Hall
Meeting point 10.5 mi away

Carmel City Hall

Carmel , IN
Carmel City Hall (second floor One, 1 Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032
Rating 3.1/5 18 reviews Government office,City courthouse
Carmel Gazebo
Nearby stop 10.5 mi away

Carmel Gazebo

Carmel , IN
3 Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032
Rating 4.5/5 47 reviews Event venue

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Zionsville.

RAIL

Indianapolis Union Station

23 mi away
350 South Illinois Street
RAIL

Crawfordsville

55 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

57 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Lafayette station

75 mi away
200 North 2nd St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portage and Union. Straight-line distance: 215.35 mi (346.58 km).

Portage

#1 Portage

The second most populous city in Porter County, Indiana.

Population90,543
Coordinates41.5758700, -87.1761500
Altitude194
CountryUnited States
Union

#2 Union

City in Indiana, United States of America

Population2,160
Coordinates38.4653300, -87.4347400
Altitude143
CountryUnited States
Start: Portage (-87.17615, 41.57587)
End: Union (-87.43474, 38.46533)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 463 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.15 gal
38.44 L · about $38.28
Round trip
$76.55
20.3 gal · 76.88 L
Estimated CO2
90.2 kg one way
Round trip: 180.4 kg / 398 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $38.28 $76.55
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.17 $86.34
Premium $4.65 $47.24 $94.48
Diesel $5.30 $53.84 $107.67

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 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Portage, IN and Union, IN. The current time in Portage is 00:23:20, although it is 01:23:20 in Union.

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.