Ann Arbor to Greilickville is 242.7 miles and takes about 4h 40m via US 23 BUS and I 75, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, beginning and ending in Michigan. Expect a largely highway experience, making it a straightforward trip. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.4 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23 BUS
94.9 mi
1h 41m
I 75
90.1 mi
1h 30m
M 72
24.4 mi
33m
East M 72
8.4 mi
11m
M-72 West
7.7 mi
10m
US 31 North
3.8 mi
6m
East Eighth Street
2.2 mi
4m
South Cedar Street
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 23 BUS
— 94.9 mi, about 1h 41m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,811 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,851
Quietest
2 AM
~94 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Greilickville, 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
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 75; US 23
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
27 mi·27 min·I 75
9
Take the exit onto BL I 75
1.8 mi·4 min·BL I 75
Toward I 75 Business Loop, M 72: Downtown Grayling, Traverse City
10
Turn left onto M 72; M 93
24 mi·33 min·M 72; M 93
11
At end of road, turn right onto US 131; M 72; M 66
2.0 mi·3 min·South Cedar Street
12
Turn left onto M 72
1.0 mi·1 min·West Mile Road Northwest
13
Continue on M 72
7.7 mi·10 min·M-72 West
14
Continue on M 72
7.2 mi·9 min·East M 72
15
Enter roundabout onto M 72
116 ft·1 sec·East M 72
16
Continue on M 72
0.4 mi·46 sec·East M 72
17
Enter roundabout onto M 72
88 ft·3 sec·East M 72
18
Continue on M 72
0.8 mi·1 min·East M 72
19
Turn left onto US 31; M 72
3.8 mi·6 min·US 31 North
20
Continue on US 31; M 72
1.2 mi·2 min·Munson Avenue
21
Turn left onto East Eighth Street
2.2 mi·4 min·East Eighth Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto South Union Street
0.4 mi·57 sec·South Union Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto US 31; M 37; M 72
1.1 mi·2 min·West Grandview Parkway
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on M 22
0.6 mi·1 min·South West Bay Shore Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn left
194 ft·14 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4h 40m drive, leaving Ann Arbor in the morning will give you plenty of daylight. Since the route is mostly highway and can be completed in a single day, you have flexibility with stops. The estimated fuel cost is $43, so plan accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer stretches without many services; the 94.9-mile segment on US 23 BUS might be a good point to consider a fuel stop if needed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 121.4 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.9 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 53 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.4 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greilickville, 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 242.7 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 US 23 BUS for about 94.9 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 240.5 — 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
5
188 mi into trip|~3h 17m in|BL I 75
Take the exit onto BL I 75 toward I 75 Business Loop, M 72: Downtown Grayling, Traverse City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 Business Loop, M 72: Downtown Grayl...
5
214.1 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|US 131; M 72; M 66 / South Cedar Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 131; M 72; M 66 / South Cedar Street
Navigation decision point
6
240.5 mi into trip|~4h 35m in|South Union Street
Turn right onto South Union Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.84 one way
$71.68 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$39.57
$79.14
premium
$4.72
$45.06
$90.12
diesel
$4.80
$45.83
$91.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.8
0
$25.48
$11.65
Efficient EV
60.7
0
$21.24
$9.71
EV Truck/SUV
97.1
1
$33.98
$15.53
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Morning
in Ann Arbor on Sunday
Local time
6:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
W 9 to 16 mph65% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:52AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 6:07AM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Greilickville, MI
Morning
in Greilickville on Sunday
Local time
6:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Areas Of Smoke
NW 10 to 15 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:52AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 6:07AM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
82°F
West Branch, MI
121 mi in
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
15 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
4h 40m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacula...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
$25
near mile 242.7
Danger: Prescribed fires Sunday, May 10, and Monday, May 11 - Platte Plains Area
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 79% of this 242.7-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 94.9 miles on US 23 BUS. After the highway segments, the route transitions to surface roads for the remaining portion of the trip. Be prepared for frequent exits and merging traffic common on interstates.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.9 mi on US 23 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 BUS and I 75. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 242.7 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 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 188 miles (BL I 75): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,364 ft585 ft
Total Climb
893 ft
Total Descent
1,184 ft
Highest Point
1,364 ft
~156 mi in
Elevation Range
779 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 Greilickville, MI, road signs point toward M 72: Downtown Grayling and Traverse City.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 242.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.9 miles on US 23 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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.
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 Greilickville, 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. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 188 miles (BL I 75): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Greilickville, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
