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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Lake Station
Skip as a destination: Lake Station is a highway junction with no real sights. Use it only for a cheap bed if you're driving I-80/90/94 and need to stop between Chicago and South Bend.
Lake Station (formerly East Gary) is a small bedroom community of Chicago, population 12,572. Three interstates (I-80, I-90, I-94) converge here, making it a practical fuel-and-sleep stop but not a place to visit. There are no notable attractions, and the town's identity is tied to its highway services. Most travellers will pass through without stopping.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (snow and ice on interstates)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget US$50–80 excl. bed · Mid US$80–130 excl. bed · High US$130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Gas (per litre) | US$0.85–1.00 |
| Fast-food meal (burger, fries, drink) | US$8–12 |
| Sit-down dinner (entrée only) | US$15–25 |
| Motel room (budget chain) | US$60–120 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ORD · O'Hare International
- About 60 km (37 mi) west; drive via I-90, about 45 min without trafficAbout 37 mi (60 km) west; drive via I-90, about 45 min without traffic
- MDW · Chicago Midway
- About 55 km (34 mi) west; drive via I-94 and I-65, about 50 minAbout 34 mi (55 km) west; drive via I-94 and I-65, about 50 min
Typical fares
- Gas station (regular)
- about US$3.50–4.00 per gallon (check)
- Taxi from Lake Station to Gary
- US$20–30 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. The town is spread along the interstate corridor; no useful public transport for visitors.
See and do
Known for
- Interstate junction (I-80/90/94)
- Formerly East Gary
- Bedroom community of Chicago
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gary | Drive south on I-65, about 10 min | About 15 min |
| Hobart, Indiana | Drive east on US 6, about 10 min | About 15 min |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | Drive north on I-94 to Chesterton exit, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Chicago | Drive west on I-90/94, about 45 min without traffic | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Along I-80/94 (Central Ave / Ripley St exits)
- Budget motels and chain hotels; convenient for a one-night stop but no walkable area
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Interstate exits can be confusing: I-80/90 and I-94 split near Lake Station; follow your GPS.
- No downtown or pedestrian zone; everything is roadside.
- Winter weather can close the interstates; check conditions before driving.
Lake Station is a low-crime suburb. The main risk is traffic on the interstates; watch for sudden stops and winter ice.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lake Station yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Interstate junction (I-80/90/94)
- Formerly East Gary
- Bedroom community of Chicago
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Lake Station, revision 4010294 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4010294
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Lake Station
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No public transport within Lake Station; you need a car.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/lake-station). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.