How far is Zionsville, IN from City of Gary, IN?

Fastest route

The distance between Zionsville, Indiana 46077 and Gary, Indiana is approximately 139 miles (224 kilometers). The estimated travel time is around 2 hours and 14 minutes. The suggested route is via I-65 N, which is currently the best option to avoid road closures on W Oak St. Keep in mind that Gary is in a different time zone.

Directions

To get from Zionsville, Indiana 46077 to Gary, Indiana, follow these directions:

  1. Head north on S Main St toward Bender's Alley.
  2. Turn right onto Mulberry St.
  3. At the traffic circle, continue straight onto E 500 S/Whitestown Rd.
  4. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and stay on E 500 S/Whitestown Rd.
  5. Turn left onto E 400 S/Albert South White Dr.
  6. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto 400 S/Albert S. White Dr.
  7. Use the right lane to take the ramp onto I-65 N.
  8. Continue on I-65 N towards Gary.
  9. Keep left to stay on I-65 N.
  10. Take US-12 W/US-20 W to Broadway.
  11. Use any lane to turn left onto US-12 W/US-20 W.

Tips & Suggestions

  • 🛣️ Check traffic conditions before your trip to ensure a smooth journey.
  • ⛽ Make sure to have enough fuel for the entire trip.
  • 🚗 Consider taking breaks during the journey to stay refreshed.
  • 📱 Use a navigation app or GPS device to stay on track.
  • 🕑 Take into account the time zone difference when planning your activities in Gary.
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
139.76 mi
02h 20m
Flight
126.99 mi
204.37 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Zionsville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
126.99 mi
Kilometers
204.37 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
139.76 mi
Kilometers
224.93 km
Drive Time
02h 20m

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 02h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in City of Gary
Thu, Oct 15, 12:14 PM CDT
Return by in Zionsville
Thu, Oct 15, 3:34 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Zionsville
2026-10-15T10:54
Arrive City of Gary
Thu, Oct 15, 1:14 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:20 AM to 11:20 AM CDT

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

Leave by
1:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Zionsville
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
Wolcott
IN

Town in Indiana, United States

From Zionsville
69.8 mi
01h 10m
To City of Gary
70 mi
01h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph ESE
Destination
63°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Zionsville and City of Gary.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Zionsville and City of Gary.

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Street

    63 m · 15 sec · South Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Cedar Street

    45 m · 14 sec · East Cedar Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South 1st Street

    81 m · 11 sec · South 1st Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Oak Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · West Oak Street

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Oak Street

    41 m · 3 sec · West Oak Street

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto West Oak Street

    2600 ft · 52 sec · West Oak Street

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Oak Street

    38 m · 3 sec · West Oak Street

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto West Oak Street

    868 ft · 17 sec · West Oak Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Whitestown Parkway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Whitestown Parkway

  10. 10

    Take the ramp right

    992 ft · 24 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    11.3 mi · 12 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 52 West

    1281 ft · 16 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    786 ft · 10 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    120.1 mi · 2 hr 12 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto East 5th Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · East 5th Avenue

  16. 16

    Continue on East 4th Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · East 4th Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    2662 ft · 1 min · Madison Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West 8th Avenue

    875 ft · 31 sec · West 8th Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left

    104 m · 25 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Zionsville and City of 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
20 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 52 West
120 mi · 86%
Whitestown Parkway
13.2 mi · 9%
West Oak Street
3.08 mi · 2%
East 5th Avenue
0.96 mi · 1%
East 4th Avenue
0.93 mi · 1%
Madison Street
0.5 mi
Longest Stretch

US 52 West

Merge slight left

120 mi · 02h 12m

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
02h 20m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.7 mi
127 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wolcott
01h 10m from Zionsville
Leave By
1:50 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Zionsville and Showers And Thunderstorms near City of Gary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Zionsville to City of Gary?

The road trip is about 139.7 miles (224.9 km) and usually takes 02h 20m 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?

Wolcott is a useful midpoint, sitting about 69.8 miles from Zionsville and 70 miles from City of Gary.

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

The direct path is about 127 miles (204.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:50 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.14 one way or $38.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 43.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Zionsville and Showers And Thunderstorms near City of Gary.

Stop Ideas Near Wolcott

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

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

RAIL

Rensselaer

23 mi away
619 North Cullen Street
RAIL

Lafayette station

39 mi away
200 North 2nd St.
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

77 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Kankakee

80 mi away
199 South East Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Zionsville and City of Gary. Straight-line distance: 126.99 mi (204.37 km).

Zionsville

#1 Zionsville

Town of Indiana

Population29,340
Coordinates39.9508700, -86.2619400
Altitude257
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 City of Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population80,294
Coordinates41.5956000, -87.3452100
Altitude185
CountryUnited States
Start: South Main Street (-86.26182, 39.950895)
End: (-87.34521, 41.5956)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 225 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.93 gal
18.67 L · about $19.14
Round trip
$38.29
9.86 gal · 37.34 L
Estimated CO2
43.8 kg one way
Round trip: 87.6 kg / 193 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.88 $19.14 $38.29
Mid-grade $4.47 $22.05 $44.09
Premium $5.01 $24.67 $49.35
Diesel $6.62 $32.66 $65.31

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 14, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Zionsville, IN and City of Gary, IN. The current time in Zionsville is 10:54:03, although it is 09:54:03 in City of Gary.

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.