Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night in Ann Arbor on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ann Arbor, MI to Chelsea, 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
24m
Distance
16 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion in the Midwest, the 16-mile hop from Ann Arbor to Chelsea is an ideal day trip. You can expect to spend about 24 minutes behind the wheel, making this a highly efficient transit between these two Michigan communities. With a minimal fuel budget of just $2, this drive is as affordable as it is brief. Because the journey is so short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. It serves as a straightforward connection, allowing you to transition between locations with ease and minimal preparation. Whether you are running errands or heading out for a change of scenery, this route offers a practical and budget-friendly travel option.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| East Old US Highway 12 | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| East Huron Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Jackson Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South State Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 9.7 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Chelsea, 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
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Huron Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on I 94 BL
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 94 West: Jackson
5
Merge onto I 94
9.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 94
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
Toward Jackson Road, Old US-12
7
Turn right onto East Old US Highway 12
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East Old US Highway 12
8
Turn right onto M 52
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left
170 ft
·
12 sec
10
Keep slight left at fork
22 ft
·
1 sec
11
Turn right
101 ft
·
7 sec
12
Turn slight left
146 ft
·
10 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 15.9 — 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.
5
12.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward Jackson Road, Old US-12
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Jackson Road, Old US-12
5
15.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
M 52 / South Main Street
Turn right onto M 52 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
15.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
15.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.50 one way
$5.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.75 | $5.49 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.08 | $6.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.53 | $7.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Chelsea, MI
Late night in Chelsea on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Rain Showers
SW 16 mph
82% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 3:33AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued April 13 at 3:28AM EDT until April 13 at 3:30PM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
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
24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 75% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of I-94, East Old US Highway 12, and East Huron Street to complete the trek. The most significant portion of your time is spent on I-94, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 9.7 miles. As you move away from Ann Arbor, the character of the road shifts from busy interstate travel to the more localized access points leading into Chelsea. Expect a functional, direct driving experience that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding, scenic bypasses.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and East Old US Highway 12. You will hit about 9 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 Effort
5/10
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 16 miles you will encounter 9 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 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.1 miles (M 52 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
943 ft
839 ft
Total Climb
203 ft
Total Descent
152 ft
Highest Point
943 ft
~2.3 mi in
Elevation Range
104 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ann Arbor, MI to Chelsea, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Old Us-12 along the way.
Old Us-12
12.3 mi in
|
~16m
About the Cities
Arriving in Chelsea, MI
Full guide →Chelsea is a city of 4,944 people (according to the 2010 census) in Washtenaw County.
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 24m. Total distance: 16 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.7 miles on I 94. 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 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.1 miles (M 52 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chelsea, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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