Connecting Ann Arbor to Cedar Springs, this 146.4-mile journey takes approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will primarily navigate via I-96, US-23 BUS, and Northland Drive Northeast as you traverse the heart of the Midwest. Budgeting about $22 for fuel covers the trip comfortably, allowing you to focus on the transition from the Ann Arbor area to Cedar Springs. Because the travel time is under three hours, you won't need to worry about an overnight split unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a straightforward, highway-focused route that gets you from point A to point B with minimal complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.2 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
109 mi
1h 56m
US 23 BUS
14.9 mi
16m
Northland Drive Northeast
7.7 mi
10m
East Beltline Avenue Northeast
5.7 mi
7m
Wolverine Boulevard Northeast
4.1 mi
5m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
M 14
1.1 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 109 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Cedar Springs, 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
15 mi·15 min·US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 60BToward I 96 West: LansingUse the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward I 96 West: Lansing, Brighton, Spencer Road
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
10
Merge onto I 96
1.2 mi·1 min·I 96
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
55 mi·58 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
53 mi·56 min·I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 38Toward M 44, M 37 South: East Beltline AvenueUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto M 44
5.7 mi·7 min·East Beltline Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on M 44
1.8 mi·2 min·Northland Drive Northeast
16
Continue on M 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Wolverine Boulevard Northeast
17
Continue on Northland Drive Northeast
5.9 mi·8 min·Northland Drive Northeast
18
Continue on South Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
19
Turn left onto West Cherry Street Northeast
136 ft·10 sec·West Cherry Street Northeast
20
Turn left
193 ft·14 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience without needing an elaborate itinerary. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 146.4-mile drive, keeping in mind that the longest leg is the 109-mile stretch on I-96. Check your fuel levels before merging onto the interstate to ensure you stay within your $22 budget and avoid unnecessary detours. Keep a close eye on your GPS as you transition from the major highway system onto Northland Drive Northeast to ensure a smooth arrival in Cedar Springs. Because the duration is under three hours, you can easily manage the entire route in one go while staying refreshed.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.2 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109 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 32 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.2 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Springs, 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 146.4 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 96 for about 109 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 127.8 — 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
17.9 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward I 96 West: Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 60B
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
6
18.3 mi into trip|~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 West: Lansing, Brighton, Spencer Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 96 West: Lansing, Brighton, Spencer Ro...
6
18.6 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
8
127.8 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward M 44, M 37 South: East Beltline Avenue
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 38
Toward M 44, M 37 South: East Beltline Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.89 one way
$45.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.13
$50.26
premium
$4.89
$28.17
$56.35
diesel
$5.61
$32.32
$64.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.9
0
$15.37
$7.03
Efficient EV
36.6
0
$12.81
$5.86
EV Truck/SUV
58.6
0
$20.50
$9.37
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 16, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night
in Ann Arbor on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Springs, MI
Late night
in Cedar Springs on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
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
2h 47m 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?
Expect a drive dominated by highway travel, with 85% of your time spent on high-speed roads. The route features a significant 109-mile stretch on I-96, providing a long, uninterrupted segment where you can settle into a steady rhythm. While the highway sections are efficient, the character of the drive shifts slightly as you transition onto Northland Drive Northeast to reach your destination. You will experience a mix of fast-paced interstate driving followed by the transition to local roadways near Cedar Springs. This combination ensures you spend most of your journey moving quickly before finishing with a more relaxed pace.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and US 23 BUS. 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 146.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
998 ft748 ft
Total Climb
269 ft
Total Descent
296 ft
Highest Point
998 ft
~20.9 mi in
Elevation Range
250 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 Cedar Springs, MI, road signs point toward Brighton and M 44.
Brighton
18.3 mi in|~22m
M 44
127.8 mi in|~2h 20m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 146.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Cedar Springs, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.3 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 Cedar Springs, MI before heading back.
