If you are planning a trip from Ann Arbor to Buena Vista, you are looking at a straightforward 84.6-mile journey through the Michigan Midwest. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 35 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via US 23 BUS, M 14, and North Main Street to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of just $13, it is an affordable way to travel between these two points. Since the drive is relatively short, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23 BUS
80.2 mi
1h 26m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
M 14
1.1 mi
1m
South Outer Drive
0.5 mi
1m
East Huron Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Holland Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
South State Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Perkins Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 23 BUS
— 80.2 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Buena Vista, 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
80 mi·1 hr 25 min·US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·44 sec
Exit 149Toward M 46: Buena Vista, Sandusky
8
Enter roundabout onto M 46
13 ft·0 sec·East Holland Avenue
9
Continue on M 46
0.2 mi·15 sec·East Holland Avenue
10
Enter roundabout onto M 46
106 ft·5 sec·East Holland Avenue
11
Continue on M 46
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Holland Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto South Outer Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·South Outer Drive
13
Turn left onto Perkins Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·Perkins Street
14
Turn left
328 ft·23 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a quick 1-hour and 35-minute run, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever fits your itinerary best. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily manage the 84.6-mile distance without needing to plan for breaks. Keep in mind that since the vast majority of your time is spent on US 23 BUS, traffic patterns on that specific highway will dictate your actual arrival time. Make sure to check local traffic reports before you leave, as the heavy reliance on a single highway stretch means any congestion will impact your entire travel time. Budgeting $13 for fuel is a safe bet, allowing you to focus on the road ahead.
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 42.3 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.2 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 48m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buena Vista, 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 84.6 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 80.2 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 0.3 and 83.7 — 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.
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
83.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward M 46: Buena Vista, Sandusky
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 149
Toward M 46: Buena Vista, Sandusky
5
83.5 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|M 46 / East Holland Avenue
Enter roundabout onto M 46 / East Holland Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
83.7 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|M 46 / East Holland Avenue
Enter roundabout onto M 46 / East Holland Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.23 one way
$26.45 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.52
$29.04
premium
$4.89
$16.28
$32.56
diesel
$5.61
$18.68
$37.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.88
$4.06
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.40
$3.38
EV Truck/SUV
33.8
0
$11.84
$5.41
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Morning
in Ann Arbor on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buena Vista, MI
Morning
in Buena Vista on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 15 mph59% chanceLive 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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 35m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a focused highway experience, as 95% of your travel time is spent on high-speed roads. The route features a significant 80.2-mile stretch on US 23 BUS, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you will find consistent speeds that help you cover the distance efficiently. While the terrain remains within the Michigan region, the transition from Ann Arbor to Buena Vista feels like a steady progression along major arterial routes. You should prepare for a consistent, functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
95% 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: 80.2 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 North Main Street. 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 12 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 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
990 ft604 ft
Total Climb
207 ft
Total Descent
480 ft
Highest Point
990 ft
~28.2 mi in
Elevation Range
386 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 84.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 80.2 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 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buena Vista, MI before heading back.
