museum
Field Museum of Natural History
Home to Sue, the largest and most complete T. rex ever found, along with extensive anthropological and geological collections.
38 km · about 45 min drive
North AmericaUnited StatesIndiana
Gary
Indiana, United States · North America
About Gary
Gary sits on the route: 15 minutes from New Chicago, 40km from Route 66 - Chicago Start.
Gary is in Indiana, United States, with about 77,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is New Chicago, about 7 km away.
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 69,093 at the 2020 census, making it Indiana's eleventh-most populous city. The city has been historically dominated by major industrial activity and is home to U.S. Steel's Gary Works, the largest steel mill complex in North America. Gary isRead more
located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Chicago. The city is the western gateway to the Indiana Dunes National Park, and is within the Chicago area.
Gary was named after lawyer Elbert Henry Gary, who was the founding chairman of the United States Steel Corporation. U.S. Steel had established the city in 1906 as a company town to serve its steel mills. Since the 1970s, Gary and other Rust Belt cities have lost a high number of people as the steel industry has gone through restructuring and manufacturing jobs moved out of the United States. As a result of this economic shift, the city's population has declined 61% since the 1960 census.
Although initially a very diverse city, Gary currently has one of the United States's highest percentages of African Americans. Between 1970 and 2010, Gary had the nation's highest Black population per capita. The city has a legacy of African-American cultural and historical accomplishments. In 1945, Gary was the first city in the Midwest (and one of the first in the United States) to fully integrate its public school system. It elected the country's first Black mayor, Richard Hatcher in 1967, and in 1972 hosted the first and largest National Black Political Convention. World-famed singer Michael Jackson is from Gary.
Gary is served by the Gary/Chicago International Airport, an alternative to the Chicago region's two larger airports. The city's public transport is provided by the Gary Public Transportation Corporation and the South Shore Line passenger railway, which connects to the Chicago transit system. It is home to a professional baseball team, the Gary SouthShore RailCats. In addition to its large steel mills, the city is known as the birthplace of the Jackson family, well-known entertainers whose members include singers Michael and Janet Jackson.
Where to Stay in Gary
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Gary.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Gary.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Gary?
Within an hour or so of Gary: Field Museum of Natural History (38 km), Shedd Aquarium (38 km), Art Institute of Chicago (39 km), Willis Tower (Sears Tower) (40 km).
Are there any good drives near Gary?
The nearest famous roads are Route 66 - Chicago Start.
Where is Gary?
Gary is in Indiana, United States, about 7 km from New Chicago.
Road trip
Drive to Gary
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Gary. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 77,156
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Indiana
- Timezone
- America/Chicago
- Coordinates
- 41.5934, -87.3464
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United States
AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.
Full driving guide for United StatesTags
Worth the detour from Gary
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Shedd Aquarium
Iconic Chicago aquarium on the Lake Michigan waterfront housing over 32,000 animals from around the world.
38 km · about 45 min drive
museum
Art Institute of Chicago
One of the oldest and largest art museums in the US, renowned for its Impressionist collection and Grant Wood's American Gothic.
39 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Willis Tower (Sears Tower)
Iconic 110-storey Chicago skyscraper with a glass-floored Skydeck, once the tallest building in the world.
40 km · about 45 min drive
historic highway
Route 66 - Chicago Start
The 'Begin Route 66' sign on Adams Street at Michigan Avenue marks the start of the 2,448-mile Mother Road to Santa Monica: the classic photo stop before heading west.
40 km · about 45 min drive
cafe
Lou Mitchell's
Serving double-yolk eggs and free Milk Duds since 1923, this Chicago diner beside the start of Route 66 is the traditional first breakfast of the Mother Road journey.
40 km · about 45 min drive
Driving roads near Gary
- 40 kmRoute 66 - Chicago StartThe 'Begin Route 66' sign on Adams Street at Michigan Avenue marks the start of the 2,448-mile Mother Road to Santa Monica: the classic photo stop before heading west.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Gary.
Plan a trip around Gary
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Gary.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.