How far is Winona Lake, IN from Gary, IN?

The driving distance from Winona Lake, IN to Gary, IN is about 97.2 miles (156.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 83 miles (133.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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
97.21 mi
01h 49m
Flight
82.95 mi
133.49 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Winona Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
82.95 mi
Kilometers
133.49 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
97.21 mi
Kilometers
156.45 km
Drive Time
01h 49m

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 01h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gary
Wed, Apr 22, 11:41 PM CDT
Return by in Winona Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 2:31 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Winona Lake
2026-04-22T22:52
Arrive Gary
Thu, Apr 23, 12:41 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:50 AM to 10:50 AM CDT

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

Leave by
2:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Winona Lake
9:30 PM EDT
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
Kingsford Heights
IN

Town of the United States

From Winona Lake
47.1 mi
00h 54m
To Gary
50.1 mi
00h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
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 Winona Lake and Gary.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Winona Lake and Gary.

  1. 1

    Start on Park Avenue

    1681 ft · 60 sec · Park Avenue

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Argonne Road

    39 m · 4 sec · Argonne Road

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto Argonne Road

    2234 ft · 1 min · Argonne Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Parker Street

    3127 ft · 1 min · Parker Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Parker Street

    38 m · 6 sec · Parker Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Lake City Highway

    65.9 mi · 1 hr 25 min · Lake City Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 49 North, SR 2 East: Valparaiso, Chesterton

    9.2 mi · 13 min

  8. 8

    Turn left onto I 80, I 90: Toll Road

    120 m · 10 sec

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    757 ft · 18 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on I 80, I 90: Toll Road

    125 m · 10 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West, I 90 West: Chicago

    1246 ft · 31 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

    15.6 mi · 18 min · Indiana Toll Road

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 53: Broadway

    2139 ft · 56 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Broadway

    549 ft · 30 sec · Broadway

  15. 15

    Turn right onto West 4th Avenue

    1347 ft · 30 sec · West 4th Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Madison Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 10th Place

    1298 ft · 57 sec · 10th Place

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 10th Place

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Lake City Highway
65.9 mi · 68%
Indiana Toll Road
15.6 mi · 16%
SR 49 North
9.22 mi · 9%
Madison Street
0.74 mi · 1%
Parker Street
0.62 mi · 1%
Argonne Road
0.45 mi
Longest Stretch

Lake City Highway

Turn left onto Lake City Highway

65.9 mi · 01h 25m

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
01h 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.2 mi
83 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kingsford Heights
00h 54m from Winona Lake
Leave By
2:50 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Winona Lake and Sunny near Gary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Winona Lake to Gary?

The road trip is about 97.2 miles (156.5 km) and usually takes 01h 49m 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?

Kingsford Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 47.1 miles from Winona Lake and 50.1 miles from Gary.

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

The direct path is about 83 miles (133.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:50 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.93 one way or $25.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Winona Lake and Sunny near Gary.

Stop Ideas Near Kingsford Heights

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

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

RAIL

Michigan City

32 mi away
100 Washington St.
RAIL

New Buffalo, Michigan

34 mi away
517 South Whittaker Street
RAIL

New Buffalo

35 mi away
226 North Whittaker Street
RAIL

South Bend station

40 mi away
2702 West Washington Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Winona Lake and Gary. Straight-line distance: 82.95 mi (133.49 km).

Winona Lake

#1 Winona Lake

Town in Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States

Population4,890
Coordinates41.2272700, -85.8219300
Altitude249
CountryUnited States
Gary

#2 Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population74,693
Coordinates41.5933700, -87.3464300
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Start: Park Avenue (-85.821906, 41.227311)
End: (-87.346439, 41.59327)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 156 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.43 gal
12.99 L · about $12.93
Round trip
$25.87
6.86 gal · 25.98 L
Estimated CO2
30.5 kg one way
Round trip: 61 kg / 134 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $12.93 $25.87
Mid-grade $4.25 $14.59 $29.18
Premium $4.65 $15.96 $31.93
Diesel $5.30 $18.19 $36.39

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 Winona Lake, IN and Gary, IN. The current time in Winona Lake is 22:52:06, although it is 21:52:06 in Gary.

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.