Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night in Ann Arbor on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ann Arbor, MI to Bay City, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
99.7 mi
160 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Bay City, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ann Arbor to Bay City is 99.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 50 minutes via US 23 BUS, BS I 75, and North Main Street, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive through Michigan's Midwest region, largely on highways, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. You'll find it's a focused, efficient route with minimal detours. Consider this drive when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss, as it's designed for speed and directness.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.8 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 23 BUS | 93.4 mi | 1h 40m |
| BS I 75 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| M 14 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Huron Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South State Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 9th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 23 BUS
— 93.4 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Bay City, MI.
1
Start on South State Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
South State Street
2
Turn left onto I 94 BL; US 23 BUS
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Huron Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto US 23 BUS
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
4
Take the ramp onto US 23 BUS
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 23 BUS
Toward M 14 East, US 23: Flint, Detroit
5
Merge onto M 14; US 23 BUS
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
M 14; US 23 BUS
6
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS
93 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 162A
Toward M 25 East: Downtown, Bay City
8
Merge onto BS I 75; M 25
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
BS I 75; M 25
9
Turn right onto M 84
357 ft
·
8 sec
·
Washington Avenue
10
Turn right onto 9th Street
138 ft
·
6 sec
·
9th Street
11
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour 50 minute duration, this route is easily accomplished in a single day. You can depart Ann Arbor anytime and still arrive in Bay City with plenty of daylight remaining. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it’s an economical trip, and the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 93 miles, so plan your refueling stops accordingly before you begin if you prefer to top off. There are no specific recommended stops noted, so you have the flexibility to be spontaneous or make good time on this efficient drive.
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 49.8 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.4 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.8 miles or 56m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay City, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ann Arbor, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ann Arbor, MI
This is one driving day of about 99.7 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Ann Arbor, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 23 BUS for about 93.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.8 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 23 BUS if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 99.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street
Turn left onto I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 23 BUS / North Main Street
Turn right onto US 23 BUS / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 23 BUS
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 23 North: Flint
6
96.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward M 25 East: Downtown, Bay City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 162A
Toward M 25 East: Downtown, Bay City
5
99.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
9th Street
Turn right onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.59 one way
$31.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.11 | $34.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.19 | $38.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.01 | $44.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.47 | $4.79 |
| Efficient EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.72 | $3.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.96 | $6.38 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Bay City, MI
Late night in Bay City on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
5 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
1h 50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with a substantial 97% of the journey taking place on faster roads. Expect long, uninterrupted stretches, including a notable 93.4-mile segment on US 23 BUS. The route offers a consistent pace, allowing you to cover ground efficiently. While the majority is highway, the final approach into Bay City involves transitioning onto local roads like North Main Street, offering a slight change of scenery as you reach your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.4 mi on US 23 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 BUS and BS I 75. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 50m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 23 BUS / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Bay City, MI
Full guide →Bay City is a city in Central Michigan. A former lumbering/mill town that was incorporated in 1865, it was at one time the home of the celebrity Madonna, which is commemorated in a mural downtown.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 99.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.4 miles on US 23 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 23 BUS / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bay City, MI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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