Ann Arbor to Burnside is 101 miles and takes about 1 hour 56 minutes via US 23 BUS, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region. The route primarily uses highway, making it a straightforward drive. It's a good option if you're looking for a relatively short, direct trip without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.5 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23 BUS
47.4 mi
50m
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
34.3 mi
35m
North Van Dyke Road
12.4 mi
16m
South Cedar Street
1.6 mi
2m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
M 14
1.1 mi
1m
North Cedar Street
0.6 mi
1m
East Huron Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 23 BUS
— 47.4 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Burnside, 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
47 mi·50 min·US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Port HuronUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 69 East: Flint, Port Huron
10
Merge onto I 69
34 mi·35 min·Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 168Toward M 53: Imlay City, Almont
12
Turn left onto M 53
0.2 mi·15 sec·Van Dyke Road
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on M 53
1.6 mi·2 min·South Cedar Street
14
Continue on M 53
0.6 mi·1 min·North Cedar Street
15
Continue on M 53
12 mi·16 min·North Van Dyke Road
16
Turn right onto M 90
47 ft·0 sec·East Burnside Road
17
Arrive at destination
M 90
Trip Plan
Since this is a less-than-two-hour drive, you have a lot of flexibility. Leaving Ann Arbor in the morning or early afternoon should get you to Burnside with plenty of time before dark. Given the relatively short distance and fuel cost of $18, you probably won't need to worry about frequent fuel stops. However, it's always a good idea to keep an eye on your gas gauge, especially as you transition to North Van Dyke Road, where services might be less frequent than on the main freeway. Plan for one quick stop midway if you like, but it's not essential for this distance.
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 50.5 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.4 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 50.5 miles or 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 1h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burnside, 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 101 miles and 1h 56m.
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 47.4 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 3.1 and 85.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
50.4 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the exit toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
7
50.6 mi into trip|~57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
6
50.8 mi into trip|~57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69 East: Flint, Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 69 East: Flint, Port Huron
6
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward M 53: Imlay City, Almont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 168
Toward M 53: Imlay City, Almont
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.79 one way
$33.58 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$18.29
$36.58
premium
$5.18
$20.61
$41.22
diesel
$5.35
$21.27
$42.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.3
0
$10.61
$4.85
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.84
$4.04
EV Truck/SUV
40.4
0
$14.14
$6.46
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.
Forecast as of May 10, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Afternoon
in Ann Arbor on Wednesday
Local time
4:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Clear
NW 3 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 9 at 3:09PM EDT until May 10 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued May 9 at 3:09PM EDT until May 11 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Destination
Burnside, MI
Afternoon
in Burnside on Wednesday
Local time
4:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
42 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 56m 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 to spend most of your time on the highway, with an 81% highway share. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 47.4 miles on US 23 BUS. After that, the landscape will transition from Chevrolet-Buick Freeway to North Van Dyke Road, which will feel more like surface street driving with likely more exits and local traffic. You'll notice a distinct shift as you leave the high-speed freeway environment.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.4 mi on US 23 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 BUS and Chevrolet-Buick Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near US 23 BUS.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101 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 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
982 ft772 ft
Total Climb
308 ft
Total Descent
334 ft
Highest Point
982 ft
~28.9 mi in
Elevation Range
210 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ann Arbor, MI and Burnside, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron, Flint, M 53: Imlay City and Almont.
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 1h 56m. Total distance: 101 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.4 miles on US 23 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Burnside, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Burnside, MI before heading back.
