Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
15.7 mi
25 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ada, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Wilder Center, MI
Eduard Perez
Ada, MI to Wilder Center, MI is 15.7 miles and takes about 20 minutes via I 96 and Fulton Street East, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, making it a simple day trip. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, so it's a straightforward drive. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick errand or connecting two points without a significant time commitment. Plan for a smooth and efficient transit between these Michigan locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| Fulton Street East | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Bronson Street Southeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Walker Avenue Northwest | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 4 Mile Road Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Ada Drive Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ada, MI and Wilder Center, MI.
Start on Ada Drive Southeast
Turn right onto Bronson Street Southeast
At end of road, turn left onto Bronson Street Southeast
Turn left onto M 21
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 96
Keep slight right at fork onto I 96; M 37
Take the exit
Turn right onto Walker Avenue Northwest
Turn left onto 4 Mile Road Northwest
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 15.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto Bronson Street Southeast
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 96; M 37 toward I 96 West, M 37 North: Muskegon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Walker Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto 4 Mile Road Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.43 one way
$4.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $2.67 | $5.34 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.05 | $6.09 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $3.46 | $6.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.00 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Ada on Saturday
Local time
8:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Wilder Center on Saturday
Local time
8:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is mostly highway, with 62% of the 15.7 miles on roads like I 96. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 9.7 miles on I 96. After the highway portion, you'll transition to surface streets like Fulton Street East and Bronson Street Southeast for the remainder of the drive. Expect a change in traffic flow and speed as you move from the interstate to local roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Fulton Street East. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Bronson Street Southeast.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 15.7 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Bronson Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 5.1 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (I 96; M 37): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
295 ft
Total Descent
196 ft
Highest Point
808 ft
~5.6 mi in
Elevation Range
171 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ada, MI and Wilder Center, MI, road signs point toward Muskegon and M 37 North: Muskegon.
Muskegon
M 37 North: Muskegon
Ada is a town in West Michigan, east of Grand Rapids. It is best known – and most visited – as the world headquarters of "multi-level marketing" giant Amway.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 20m. Total distance: 15.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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