This 426.9-mile journey from Ann Arbor, MI to Kingsley, MI will take approximately 7 hours and 51 minutes of pure driving time. Primarily utilizing I-75 and US-2 West, this highway-focused drive is best tackled in a single day, especially given its Midwest to Midwest transit. With an estimated fuel cost of $67 and two recommended stops, you can expect a straightforward trip. The route offers a continuous driving experience for the most part, making it a manageable, albeit long, day trip for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently within Michigan.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
213.5 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
180.5 mi
3h 4m
US-2 West
130.2 mi
2h 34m
US 23 BUS
94.9 mi
1h 41m
County 426 L Road
3.6 mi
4m
County 426 24th Road
3.3 mi
4m
US 2
3.2 mi
3m
County 420 21st Road
3 mi
4m
County Road 426
2.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 180.5 mi, about 3h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Kingsley, 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
118 mi·2 hr 1 min·I 75
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 344BToward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
10
Merge onto US 2; I 75 BL
0.7 mi·1 min·US-2 West
11
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi·3 min·US 2
12
Continue on US 2
130 mi·2 hr 33 min·US-2 West
13
Turn right onto South Hill Road
392 ft·10 sec·South Hill Road
14
Continue on Blackwell Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Blackwell Avenue
15
Continue on South Hill Road
0.6 mi·1 min·South Hill Road
16
Continue on 420
3.0 mi·4 min·County 420 21st Road
17
Continue on 426
0.9 mi·1 min·County 426 21st Road
18
Continue on 426
3.6 mi·4 min·County 426 L Road
19
Continue on 426
3.3 mi·4 min·County 426 24th Road
20
Continue on 426
0.3 mi·29 sec·County Road 426 E Road
21
Continue on CR 426
2.6 mi·3 min·County Road 426
22
Arrive at destination
CR 426
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 51-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Ann Arbor to avoid potential traffic and maximize daylight hours. With 426.9 miles to cover, plan for at least two stops to stretch your legs and refuel; one around the halfway point on I-75 would be ideal. The $67 fuel estimate is helpful for budgeting, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the longest 180.5-mile stretch on I-75 where services might be less frequent than you'd expect. Given the highway-centric nature, staying alert for changing speed limits and potential construction zones will be key.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 213.5 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 3h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.5 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 94 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 213.5 miles or 3h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingsley, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ann Arbor, MI
This is one driving day of about 426.9 miles and 7h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Ann Arbor, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 180.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 278.4 — 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
278.4 mi into trip|~4h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 344B
Toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.74 one way
$133.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg149 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$73.28
$146.56
premium
$4.89
$82.15
$164.31
diesel
$5.61
$94.25
$188.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$92–$117
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 149.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
128.1
1
$44.82
$20.49
Efficient EV
106.7
1
$37.35
$17.08
EV Truck/SUV
170.8
2
$59.77
$27.32
Gas CO2
149 kg
EV CO2
50 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night
in Ann Arbor on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kingsley, MI
Late night
in Kingsley on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
8 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
7h 51m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 predominantly highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-75 and US-2 West. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 180.5 miles on I-75, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While the majority of the drive is on high-speed roads, the inclusion of US-2 BUS suggests brief transitions to slightly more varied road conditions as you approach your destination. This route is designed for covering distance efficiently rather than for winding scenic exploration.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US-2 West. You will hit about 10 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 Effort6/10
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 426.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 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.
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 Kingsley, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Escanaba along the way.
Escanaba
278.4 mi in|~4h 51m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 51m. Total distance: 426.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 51m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 180.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Kingsley, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kingsley, MI before the return drive.
