Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
47.8 mi
77 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Clarkston, MI
Clara Alave
This 47.8-mile drive from Ann Arbor to Clarkston, Michigan, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes. You'll primarily navigate along US 23 BUS, Highland Road, and White Lake Road, with about half the journey on highways. Expect a modest fuel cost of around $7 for this relatively short Midwestern excursion. The mixed driving profile means you won't be stuck on a monotonous interstate the entire time. This route is perfect for a quick, straightforward trip between two points within Michigan.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 23 BUS | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| Highland Road | 10.6 mi | 15m |
| White Lake Road | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| Ormond Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| M 14 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Andersonville Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Huron Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Clarkston, MI.
Start on South State Street
Turn left onto I 94 BL; US 23 BUS
Turn right onto US 23 BUS
Take the ramp onto US 23 BUS
Merge onto M 14; US 23 BUS
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto M 59
Take the exit
Turn left onto M 59
Turn right onto Ormond Road
At end of road, turn right onto White Lake Road
At end of road, turn right onto Andersonville Road
Turn left onto White Lake Road
Continue on South Holcomb Road
Turn right onto West Washington Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 25.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward M 59: Howell, Pontiac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward M 59 East: Pontiac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto M 59 / Highland Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.47 one way
$14.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.21 | $16.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.20 | $18.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.55 | $21.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.02 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.69 | $3.06 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Ann Arbor on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Clarkston on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
46°F
Clyde, MI
24 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
The character of this drive is a mixed bag, with 47% of the route on highways. You'll experience stretches of quicker travel, including a significant 22.6-mile segment on US 23 BUS, which will likely feel like the most continuous driving portion. As you transition to Highland Road and White Lake Road, the driving experience will likely become more localized, potentially involving more turns and varied speed limits. This blend offers a dynamic feel, shifting from efficient travel to more community-focused roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ann Arbor, MI and Clarkston, MI, road signs point toward M 59: Howell, Pontiac and M 59 East: Pontiac.
M 59: Howell
Pontiac
M 59 East: Pontiac
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 47.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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