Ann Arbor to Bay Mills is 335.5 miles and takes about 6h 1m via I 75 and US 23 BUS, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest drive stays within Michigan, taking you north through familiar landscapes. With over 90% highway driving, it's a straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. Plan for a single day to reach your destination without feeling overly rushed, making it a good option for a quick getaway.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
167.8 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
222.1 mi
3h 45m
US 23 BUS
94.9 mi
1h 41m
M 28
7.7 mi
8m
West Lakeshore Drive
3.9 mi
9m
South M-221
2.5 mi
4m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
M 14
1.1 mi
1m
South Bay Mills Point Road
1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 222.1 mi, about 3h 45m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,428 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,312
Quietest
2 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Bay Mills, 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
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 75; US 23
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
159 mi·2 hr 42 min·I 75
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward M 28: Newberry, Munising
10
Turn left onto M 28
7.7 mi·8 min·M 28
11
Turn right onto M 221
2.5 mi·4 min·South M-221
12
At end of road, turn left onto West Lakeshore Drive
3.9 mi·9 min·West Lakeshore Drive
13
Turn right onto South Bay Mills Point Road
1.0 mi·3 min·South Bay Mills Point Road
14
Turn slight right onto South North Drive
83 ft·3 sec·South North Drive
15
Arrive at destination
South North Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider leaving Ann Arbor in the morning, perhaps between 8 and 9 AM, to allow for a comfortable arrival in Bay Mills with plenty of daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you won't need to plan for an overnight stop. The longest stretch without significant deviation is over 200 miles on I 75, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly before you hit that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the northern parts of I 75, where services can sometimes be more spread out.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 167.8 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 222.1 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 74 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 167.8 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay Mills, 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.
+
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 Ann Arbor, MI
This is one driving day of about 335.5 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Ann Arbor, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 222.1 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 0.3 and 320 — 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
4
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|US 23 BUS
Take the ramp onto US 23 BUS toward M 14 East, US 23: Flint, Detroit
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward M 14 East, US 23: Flint, Detroit
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
5
320 mi into trip|~5h 33m in
Take the exit toward M 28: Newberry, Munising
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward M 28: Newberry, Munising
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.55 one way
$99.09 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$54.70
$109.39
premium
$4.72
$62.29
$124.58
diesel
$4.80
$63.35
$126.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.7
1
$35.23
$16.10
Efficient EV
83.9
0
$29.36
$13.42
EV Truck/SUV
134.2
1
$46.97
$21.47
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night
in Ann Arbor on Sunday
Local time
5:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Smoke
S 2 to 7 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:42AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 5:18AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Destination
Bay Mills, MI
Late night
in Bay Mills on Sunday
Local time
5:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Smoke
SE 5 to 10 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:42AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 5:18AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
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
20 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
6h 1m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on the highway, as 94% of this route is interstate or major highway. The longest continuous stretch on I 75 covers 222.1 miles, so expect long periods of consistent cruising. You'll transition from I 75 onto US 23 BUS and then M 28, which will offer a change of pace with more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits as you get closer to Bay Mills.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 222.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 23 BUS. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron 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 335.5 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 0.3 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 1.9 miles (US 23 BUS): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Ann Arbor — often abbreviated as AA or A2 — is a picturesque city surrounding the University of Michigan. It has a strong bent toward the arts, and an attractive and pedestrian-friendly downtown. Visitors enjoy the city's wonderful sidewalk cafe dining, unique shops, lots of bookstores, and abundant cultural opportunities.
Ann Arbor is in Michigan 35 miles (56 km) north of the Ohio border and 45 miles (72 km) west of Detroit, near where the furthest exurban fringes give way to country and small towns. In 2019, the city had a population of about 120,000 people, and thousands of visitors come to town for football games and various festivals.
Top landmarks
•Detroit Observatory — astronomical observatory in Ann Arbor, United States of America
•Kelsey Museum of Archaeology — archaeology museum in Newberry Hall
•Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum — museum in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 335.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 222.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bay Mills, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 1.9 miles (US 23 BUS): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bay Mills, MI before the return drive.
