Ann Arbor to Paradise is 341.6 miles and takes about 6h 4m via I 75 and US 23 BUS, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Michigan, taking you from the Midwest region to the northern part of the state. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on highways, making it a good option if you want to reach your destination efficiently. Plan for a single day of driving to cover the distance comfortably.
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
170.8 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
187.9 mi
3h 11m
US 23 BUS
94.9 mi
1h 41m
South Deerfoot Road
32.9 mi
38m
Tahquamenon Trail
22.4 mi
26m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
M 14
1.1 mi
1m
East Huron Street
0.4 mi
1m
South State Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 187.9 mi, about 3h 11m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,428 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,312
Quietest
2 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.1×
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 Paradise, 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
125 mi·2 hr 8 min·I 75
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Exit 352Toward M 123: Newberry
10
Turn left onto M 123
22 mi·26 min·Tahquamenon Trail
11
Continue on M 123; H-40
406 ft·8 sec·Front Street
12
Turn right onto M 123
33 mi·38 min·South Deerfoot Road
13
Continue on M 123
78 ft·1 sec·M 123
14
Arrive at destination
M 123
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour drive time, leaving Ann Arbor in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Paradise with daylight to spare. The longest stretch on I 75 is nearly 188 miles, so plan a fuel and stretch break before you hit that segment if needed. While the fuel cost is estimated at $60, keep an eye on gas prices as you travel north. You'll primarily be on I 75, so ensure your vehicle is in good condition for highway speeds.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170.8 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 187.9 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 75 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.8 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paradise, 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 341.6 miles and 6h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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 I 75 for about 187.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 285.8 — 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.
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
5
285.8 mi into trip|~4h 59m in
Take the exit toward M 123: Newberry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 352
Toward M 123: Newberry
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.45 one way
$100.89 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg120 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$55.69
$111.38
premium
$4.72
$63.42
$126.85
diesel
$4.80
$64.50
$129.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.5
1
$35.87
$16.40
Efficient EV
85.4
0
$29.89
$13.66
EV Truck/SUV
136.6
1
$47.82
$21.86
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night
in Ann Arbor on Sunday
Local time
12:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Smoke
SSE 1 to 7 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:42AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 5:18AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Destination
Paradise, MI
Late night
in Paradise on Sunday
Local time
12:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Smoke
SE 5 to 10 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:42AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 5:18AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids 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
13 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
6h 4m 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?
This route is mostly highway, with 83% of the drive on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 187.9 miles on I 75 before transitioning to US 23 BUS and then South Deerfoot Road. Expect to see plenty of exits and merging traffic during the highway portion. The latter part of the drive will involve more surface roads.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 187.9 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 23 BUS. 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 Effort5/10
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 341.6 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,315 ft602 ft
Total Climb
1,165 ft
Total Descent
1,417 ft
Highest Point
1,315 ft
~219.6 mi in
Elevation Range
713 ft
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 Paradise, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 123: Newberry along the way.
M 123: Newberry
285.8 mi in|~4h 59m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Paradise is an unincorporated community on Whitefish Bay. This article covers a broad but sparsely-populated rural area at the eastern end of Lake Superior on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 4m. Total distance: 341.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 187.9 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Paradise, 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 29 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 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 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paradise, MI before the return drive.
