Alpena, MI Road Trips
Alpena, MI serves as a quiet starting point in the Midwest, connecting drivers to 4 outbound routes across the area. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 220-mile quick runs to 255-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Alpena, MI head south, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
6
Longest Drive
254.5 mi
Dearborn, MI
Quickest Drive
4h 23m
Lansing, MI
Plan Around Alpena, MI
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Alpena, MI is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Alpena, MI
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Alpena, MI
Driving from Alpena, MI
On average, trips departing from Alpena, MI run 242 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 38m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 255 miles (4h 51m), while the shortest is just 220 miles.
Popular Destinations
Top road trip destinations from Alpena, MI are Dearborn, MI (254.5 mi, 4h 51m), Detroit, MI (250.9 mi, 4h 46m), Lansing, MI (244.2 mi, 4h 23m), and Troy, MI (219.5 mi, 4h 33m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in MI currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 242-mile trip from Alpena, MI, budget about $36 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 4 mapped routes leaving Alpena, MI and 2 routes heading into Alpena, MI, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 220 to 255 miles.
The longest mapped route from Alpena, MI covers 255 miles and takes approximately 4h 51m. Shorter options start at just 220 miles.
The average route from Alpena, MI runs about 242 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 38m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 242-mile trip from Alpena, MI costs roughly $36 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Alpena, MI include Dearborn, MI, Detroit, MI, Lansing, MI and Troy, MI. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Alpena, MI by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
10,178
Median Income
$47,604
Median Home Value
$110,400
Median Age
45.2
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Alpena, MI at a Glance
Founded
1840
Elevation
591 ft
Area
9 mi²
Notable People from Alpena, MI
A sampling of people born in Alpena, MI.
Michael Bailey Smith
1957
American actor
Stanley Grenz
1950–2005
American theologian (1950–2005)
William Comstock
1877–1949
American politician (1877-1949)
Donald B. Duncan
1896–1975
United States admiral (1896–1975)
Frank D. Scott
1878–1951
American politician (1878-1951)
Mark Smolinski
1939
American football player
Kevin Young
1969
American baseball player
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Alpena, MI.
Alpena County Courthouse
historic courthouse in Alpena, Michigan, USA
Alpena Light
lighthouse in Michigan, United States
Katherine V.
American tugboat
Bingham School
school in Alpena, Michigan
City data from Wikidata (Q1012455), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Alpena, MI
Alpena is a city in Northeastern Michigan.
1 Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, 491 Johnson St, ☏ +1 989 356-2202. (updated Jan 2020) Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, 500 W. Fletcher St, ☏ +1 989-884-6200.
1 Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve. A 4,300-sq-mi (11,000 km²) area that protects an estimated 116 historically significant shipwrecks ranging from nineteenth-century wooden side-wheelers to 20th-century steel-hulled steamers. (updated Sep 2021)
Downtown Scoops Ice Cream Shoppe (Scoops), 101 N 2nd Ave (downtown), ☏ +1 989 340 0274. A small ice cream shop. USD $5-20. (updated Mar 2023)
Austin Brothers Beer Company, 821 W Miller St., ☏ +1 989-340-2300. Nice brewery on the outskirts of town. Decent food menu as well. (updated Jun 2018)
Ramada by Wyndham Alpena Hotel & Conference Center, 1000 US 23 North (From town center, north on US 23.). $60-80/n.
Travel tips adapted from Alpena (Michigan) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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