How far is Princeton, IN from Gary, IN?

The driving distance from Princeton, IN to Gary, IN is about 247.8 miles (398.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 224 miles (360.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 39m 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
247.8 mi
04h 19m
Flight
224.04 mi
360.55 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Princeton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
224.04 mi
Kilometers
360.55 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
247.8 mi
Kilometers
398.79 km
Drive Time
04h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gary
Thu, Apr 23, 4:01 AM CDT
Return by in Princeton
Thu, Apr 23, 8:21 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Princeton
2026-04-22T23:41
Arrive Gary
Thu, Apr 23, 4:01 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:20 AM to 12:20 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Princeton
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
Perrysville
IN

Human settlement in Vermillion County, Indiana, United States of America

From Princeton
124.2 mi
02h 09m
To Gary
123.6 mi
02h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph WSW
Destination
69°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Princeton and Gary.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Princeton and Gary.

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    9 m · 4 sec · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Broadway Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · West Broadway Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right

    1751 ft · 48 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    25 mi · 28 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 41 North, US 150: Terre Haute

    57.7 mi · 1 hr 18 min

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Chicago

    63.3 mi · 1 hr 21 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    47.3 mi · 1 hr

  8. 8

    Turn right onto State Road 14

    9.5 mi · 13 min · State Road 14

  9. 9

    Take the ramp left

    2584 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    37.8 mi · 42 min

  11. 11

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

    1.4 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Borman Expressway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Borman Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Grant Street

    1831 ft · 45 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right

    103 m · 8 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Richard G. Hatcher Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Richard G. Hatcher Boulevard

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West 15th Avenue

    2432 ft · 56 sec · West 15th Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Harrison Boulevard

    2011 ft · 1 min · Harrison Boulevard

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 10th Place

    77 m · 11 sec · 10th Place

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 10th Place

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Princeton and Gary.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Chicago
111 mi · 45%
US 41 North
57.7 mi · 23%
State Road 14
47.8 mi · 19%
West Broadway Street
26.8 mi · 11%
Borman Expressway
1.44 mi · 1%
I 80 West
1.41 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Chicago

Turn straight onto Chicago

63.3 mi · 01h 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
04h 19m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.8 mi
224 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Perrysville
02h 09m from Princeton
Leave By
8:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Princeton and Sunny near Gary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Princeton to Gary?

The road trip is about 247.8 miles (398.8 km) and usually takes 04h 19m 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?

Perrysville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 124.2 miles from Princeton and 123.6 miles from Gary.

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

The direct path is about 224 miles (360.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.8 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 8:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.96 one way or $65.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Princeton and Sunny near Gary.

Stop Ideas Near Perrysville

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

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

BUS

Danville, Illinois

19 mi away
379 Lynch Road
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

45 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Crawfordsville

45 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
RAIL

Lafayette station

61 mi away
200 North 2nd St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Princeton and Gary. Straight-line distance: 224.04 mi (360.55 km).

Princeton

#1 Princeton

City in Indiana, United States

Population8,793
Coordinates38.3553200, -87.5675200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Gary

#2 Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population74,693
Coordinates41.5933700, -87.3464300
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Start: North Main Street (-87.567527, 38.35532)
End: (-87.346439, 41.59327)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 399 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 07m
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
8.74 gal
33.1 L · about $32.96
Round trip
$65.92
17.48 gal · 66.2 L
Estimated CO2
77.7 kg one way
Round trip: 155.3 kg / 342 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.96 $65.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.17 $74.34
Premium $4.65 $40.68 $81.35
Diesel $5.30 $46.36 $92.71

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

There is no time difference between Princeton and Gary. The current time is 23:41:59.

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.