Ann Arbor to Ellington is 112 miles and takes about 2 hours and 16 minutes via US 23 BUS, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, offering a straightforward journey between two points in Michigan. It's a relatively short trip, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll encounter a mixed driving profile, so be prepared for a bit of everything. This route is practical for anyone looking for an uncomplicated drive without needing to plan for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23 BUS
66.9 mi
1h 11m
Sanilac Road
15.8 mi
18m
Mertz Road
5.5 mi
8m
East Caro Road
5.3 mi
7m
South Gera Road
4.4 mi
6m
Gera Road
4.2 mi
6m
South Main Street
2.3 mi
5m
Holland Avenue
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 23 BUS
— 66.9 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Ellington, 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
67 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 136Toward M 54, M 83: Birch Run, Frankenmuth
8
Turn right onto M 54; M 83
1.9 mi·2 min·Birch Run Road
9
Turn left onto M 83
4.2 mi·6 min·Gera Road
10
Continue on M 83
2.3 mi·5 min·South Main Street
11
Continue on M 83
4.4 mi·6 min·South Gera Road
12
Turn right onto M 46
2.0 mi·2 min·Holland Avenue
13
Continue on M 46
16 mi·18 min·Sanilac Road
14
Turn left onto M 24
5.5 mi·8 min·Mertz Road
15
Continue on M 24
0.5 mi·43 sec·Ellington Street
16
Turn right onto M 81
5.3 mi·7 min·East Caro Road
17
Arrive at destination
M 81
Trip Plan
Given this is a 2-hour and 16-minute drive covering 112 miles, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving Ann Arbor in the morning to arrive in Ellington with ample time for activities. The fuel cost is estimated at $18, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart. There are no specific recommended stops in the data, but with a drive this length, you can easily manage without extensive breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 66.9-mile stretch on US 23 BUS, to ensure you don't need to search for a station unexpectedly.
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 56 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.9 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56 miles or 1h 2m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ellington, 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 112 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 66.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 69.9 — 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.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 23 BUS / North Main Street
Turn right onto US 23 BUS / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|US 23 BUS
Take the ramp onto US 23 BUS toward M 14 East, US 23: Flint, Detroit
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward M 14 East, US 23: Flint, Detroit
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
6
69.9 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward M 54, M 83: Birch Run, Frankenmuth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 136
Toward M 54, M 83: Birch Run, Frankenmuth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.62 one way
$37.24 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$20.28
$40.57
premium
$5.18
$22.85
$45.71
diesel
$5.35
$23.59
$47.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.80
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.68
$7.17
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Afternoon
in Ann Arbor on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
ENE 1 to 8 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:06AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 3:45AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Destination
Ellington, MI
Afternoon
in Ellington on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
ENE 3 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:06AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 3:45AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
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
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
2h 16m 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?
This trip presents a mixed drive experience, with about 60% of the route utilizing highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 23 BUS, Sanilac Road, and Mertz Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 66.9 miles on US 23 BUS, offering a consistent pace. As you progress, expect the road to transition between more open highway driving and potentially more local road conditions. This variety means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind but will also need to adjust to different driving environments.
60% 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: 66.9 mi on US 23 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 16m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 0.6 miles (US 23 BUS / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 23 BUS): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,011 ft651 ft
Total Climb
296 ft
Total Descent
385 ft
Highest Point
1,011 ft
~32 mi in
Elevation Range
360 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 Ellington, MI, road signs point toward M 54, M 83: Birch Run and Frankenmuth.
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
The longest stretch is about 66.9 miles on US 23 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 23 BUS / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 23 BUS): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ellington, MI before heading back.
