This 87.4-mile drive from Ann Arbor to Dryden, Michigan, is a straightforward 1-hour and 45-minute journey, perfect for a single-day trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $14, making it an economical option for exploring the Midwest. You'll primarily be on highways, with an 88% highway share, so expect a relatively quick transit. There are no designated stops in the data, suggesting you can make good time. This route is a good choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B within Michigan.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.7 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23 BUS
47.4 mi
50m
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
29.3 mi
30m
South Lake Pleasant Road
2.2 mi
5m
Rochester Road
2 mi
5m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
M 14
1.1 mi
1m
West Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
Sutton Road
0.8 mi
2m
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 Dryden, 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
29 mi·30 min·Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 163Toward Lake Pleasant Road
12
Turn right onto South Lake Pleasant Road
2.2 mi·5 min·South Lake Pleasant Road
13
At end of road, turn left onto Sutton Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Sutton Road
14
Turn right onto Rochester Road
2.0 mi·5 min·Rochester Road
15
Turn left onto West Main Street
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 45 minutes, this drive offers plenty of flexibility for departure times. You can easily leave Ann Arbor in the morning and arrive in Dryden before lunch. Since the longest stretch is 47.4 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive fuel stops, though keeping an eye on your gauge is always wise. The $14 fuel cost is a good estimate to budget for. A practical tip for this route is to check local traffic conditions around the Chevrolet-Buick Freeway before you depart, as this section can sometimes experience congestion.
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 43.7 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 49m 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.7 miles or 49m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dryden, 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 87.4 miles and 1h 45m.
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 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 50.8 — 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
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.66 one way
$27.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.00
$30.01
premium
$4.89
$16.82
$33.64
diesel
$5.61
$19.30
$38.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.2
0
$9.18
$4.20
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.65
$3.50
EV Truck/SUV
35
0
$12.24
$5.59
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 21, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night
in Ann Arbor on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dryden, MI
Late night
in Dryden on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
1h 45m 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 highway-focused drive for most of this 87.4-mile trip, with 88% of the route utilizing higher-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.4 miles on US 23 BUS, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. You'll travel on roads like US 23 BUS, the Chevrolet-Buick Freeway, and South Lake Pleasant Road. The profile suggests a consistent, highway-style experience, minimizing complex turns and maximizing forward momentum.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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 0.3 miles in near I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street.
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 87.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Dryden, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron and Flint.
Port Huron
50.4 mi in|~56m
Flint
50.6 mi in|~57m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 87.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). 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.
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 Dryden, 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 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 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dryden, MI before heading back.
