Ann Arbor to North Branch is 93 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via US 23 BUS, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, moving you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With most of the route on highways, you'll experience a straightforward drive. It's a good option if you're looking for a relatively quick trip without too much complication, easily completed within a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.4 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23 BUS
47.4 mi
50m
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
21.1 mi
22m
North Lapeer Road
10.8 mi
16m
North Branch Road
5.8 mi
8m
South Main Street
2.1 mi
4m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
M 14
1.1 mi
1m
South Lapeer Road
0.9 mi
1m
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 North Branch, 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
21 mi·22 min·Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Toward M 24: Lapeer, PontiacUse the right lane.
12
Turn left onto M 24
0.9 mi·1 min·South Lapeer Road
13
Continue on M 24
2.1 mi·4 min·South Main Street
14
Continue on M 24
11 mi·16 min·North Lapeer Road
15
Turn right onto M 90
5.8 mi·8 min·North Branch Road
16
Continue on M 90
0.3 mi·25 sec·Huron Street
17
Arrive at destination
M 90
Trip Plan
Given this trip is under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak rush hour in Ann Arbor. Since the drive is short, you might not need a dedicated stop, but there are plenty of opportunities along US 23 BUS if you do want to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $16, and it's always wise to top off before heading out. You can easily complete this drive in one go without needing to break it up.
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 46.4 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 52m 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.4 miles or 52m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Branch, 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 92.8 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 72.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
72.6 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward M 24: Lapeer, Pontiac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward M 24: Lapeer, Pontiac
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.43 one way
$30.86 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$16.81
$33.61
premium
$5.18
$18.94
$37.87
diesel
$5.35
$19.55
$39.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.74
$4.45
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.12
$3.71
EV Truck/SUV
37.1
0
$12.99
$5.94
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 May 26, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Afternoon
in Ann Arbor on Wednesday
Local time
4:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Partly Cloudy
S 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
North Branch, MI
Afternoon
in North Branch on Wednesday
Local time
4:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
29 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 52m 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?
You'll spend about 74% of this 93-mile drive on highways, making for a generally efficient trip. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 47.4 miles on US 23 BUS. Expect the road to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination. The highway section will likely feature numerous exits and merges before you transition to more local roads.
74% 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: 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 3.1 miles in near US 23 BUS.
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 92.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 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; at 50.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,052 ft728 ft
Total Climb
353 ft
Total Descent
454 ft
Highest Point
1,052 ft
~33.1 mi in
Elevation Range
324 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 North Branch, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron, Flint, M 24: Lapeer and Pontiac.
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 1h 52m. Total distance: 92.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). 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.
Yes — we found about 3 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 North Branch, 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 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; at 50.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North Branch, MI before heading back.
