Akron, MI to Clinton Township, MI is 96.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 9 minutes via Van Dyke Road, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Michigan, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a local feel for most of this trip, with no highway time involved. It’s a straightforward journey that’s well within reach for a single day, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively short hop within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Akron, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Van Dyke Road
26.2 mi
32m
South Van Dyke Road
25 mi
31m
East Sanilac Road
9.5 mi
10m
Mertz Road
5.5 mi
8m
Sanilac Road
4.5 mi
5m
Hall Road
4 mi
6m
Biebel Road
3.8 mi
5m
Unionville Road
3.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Van Dyke Road
— 26.2 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, MI and Clinton Township, MI.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto M 138
0.5 mi·46 sec·Beach Street
3
Continue on M 138
2.0 mi·2 min·Akron Road
4
Turn right onto M 24
3.4 mi·4 min·Unionville Road
5
Continue on M 24
3.8 mi·5 min·Biebel Road
6
Continue on M 24
1.3 mi·2 min·Cleaver Road
7
Continue on M 24
0.5 mi·41 sec·Ellington Street
8
Continue on M 24
5.5 mi·8 min·Mertz Road
9
Turn left onto M 46
9.5 mi·10 min·East Sanilac Road
10
Continue on M 46
1.0 mi·1 min·State Street
11
Continue on M 46
4.5 mi·5 min·Sanilac Road
12
Turn right onto M 53
5.2 mi·5 min·South Van Dyke Road
13
Continue on M 53
1.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on M 53
20 mi·25 min·South Van Dyke Road
15
Continue on M 53
2.2 mi·3 min·North Cedar Street
16
Continue on M 53
5.6 mi·7 min·Van Dyke Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto M 53
0.9 mi·1 min·North Main Street
18
Continue on M 53
21 mi·25 min·Van Dyke Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 17Toward M 59: Mount Clemens, PontiacUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto M 59
4.0 mi·6 min·Hall Road
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto Romeo Plank Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Romeo Plank Road
Use the right lane.
22
Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road
112 ft·2 sec·Romeo Plank Road
23
Continue on Romeo Plank Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Romeo Plank Road
24
Enter roundabout onto Cass Avenue
123 ft·2 sec·Cass Avenue
25
Continue on Cass Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Cass Avenue
26
Turn right onto Moravian Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Moravian Drive
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn right onto White Oaks Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·White Oaks Drive
28
Turn right onto Red Oaks Drive
289 ft·12 sec·Red Oaks Drive
29
Arrive at destination
Red Oaks Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 9 minute duration, this is a perfect same-day trip. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid any potential rush hour traffic as you approach Clinton Township. With no highway driving, you’ll have flexibility on when and where to make short stops if needed, though the longest stretch between turns is over 26 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $15, and plan your departure from Akron accordingly to ensure you have enough gas for the entire 96.5-mile journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.3 miles from Akron, MI, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 21 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton Township, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Akron, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Akron, MI
This is one driving day of about 96.5 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Akron, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Van Dyke Road for about 26.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 95.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|M 138 / Beach Street
At end of road, turn left onto M 138 / Beach Street
Navigation decision point
8
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward M 59: Mount Clemens, Pontiac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward M 59: Mount Clemens, Pontiac
5
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|M 59 / Hall Road
Merge onto M 59 / Hall Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
92.3 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|Romeo Plank Road
Turn right onto Romeo Plank Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
95.1 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|Moravian Drive
Turn right onto Moravian Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.09 one way
$30.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.56
$33.13
premium
$4.89
$18.57
$37.14
diesel
$5.61
$21.31
$42.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.13
$4.63
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.44
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.51
$6.18
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Akron, MI
Late night
in Akron on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clinton Township, MI
Late night
in Clinton Township on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
10 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 9m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily on local roads, with a "turn-heavy local drive" profile and 0% highway share. You'll navigate primarily using Van Dyke Road, South Van Dyke Road, and East Sanilac Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26.2 miles on Van Dyke Road, offering a consistent segment before you start making more frequent turns. The character of the drive is more about navigating local thoroughfares than cruising on high-speed expressways.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.2 mi on Van Dyke Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near M 138 / Beach Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 96.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (M 138 / Beach Street): Navigation decision point; at 87.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.2 miles (M 59 / Hall Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Akron, MI and Clinton Township, MI, road signs point toward M 59: Mount Clemens and Pontiac.
M 59: Mount Clemens
87.8 mi in|~1h 53m
Pontiac
87.8 mi in|~1h 53m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 96.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.2 miles on Van Dyke Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (M 138 / Beach Street): Navigation decision point; at 87.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.2 miles (M 59 / Hall Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clinton Township, MI before heading back.
