In the Heart of it All

Portage is located in the northwestern corner of Indiana, just off the I-80/I-90 east-west corridor and a few miles from the I-94 interchange. Indianapolis is 150 miles to the south, South Bend 55 miles to the east, and Chicago only 40 miles west. Interchange upgrades and even new road systems are constantly on the drawing board to meet the growing interest in the area.

State roads 149, 6 and 20 provide quick routes throughout the county itself.

Thanks to this ideal location, personal cars aren’t the sole means of transportation. Residents take advantage of the South Shore Railroad electric commuter train’s frequent trips to and from Chicago.

The Porter County Municipal Airport oversees private aircraft flights and storage (including experimental aircraft machines). The Gary/Chicago Airport 20 minutes outside city limits and the Michiana Regional Airport (also within reasonable driving distance) handle small commercial carriers as well as private corporate jets into the area. Bus lines run regularly to escort passengers to O’Hare and Midway Airports for international connections; national carriers like Greyhound serve travelers as well.

Portage’s friendly environments also makes bike trails a feasible option to navigate our streets. Currently, two bike/hike trails lead to the heart of downtown, a unique option that also allows commuters greater access to public transportation.

Businesses find our access to truck, rail and water transportation astounding. The International Port of Indiana, which handles traffic for the St. Lawrence Seaway, resides in our city limits. In past years, this port shipped more tonnage than the Port of Chicago. CSX, Norfolk Southern, Southshore and Indiana Harbor Belt railroads pick up the ground hauls.

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