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Trip from Bedford, MI to Grand Rapids, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

56.6 mi

91 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

county town of Bedfordshire, England

Bedford, MI

Wikimedia Commons

city in and seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States

Grand Rapids, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 56.6-mile drive from Bedford, MI, to Grand Rapids, MI, is a straightforward 1 hour and 18-minute journey, making it an excellent option for a single-day road trip. With a highway share of 63%, you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, which is quite budget-friendly. Given the relatively short distance and manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region for the entire trip, keeping the scenery consistently Midwestern.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 37 19.1 mi 26m
US 131 11.9 mi 12m
North M-37 Highway 6.3 mi 8m
108th Street Southeast 5.5 mi 7m
North State Highway 37 4.1 mi 5m
100th Street Southeast 2.2 mi 3m
Heath Road 1.3 mi 1m
Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: State Highway 37 — 19.1 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bedford, MI and Grand Rapids, MI.

1

Start on Hutchinson Road

32 ft · 4 sec · Hutchinson Road
2

Turn right onto M 37

17 mi · 23 min · State Highway 37
3

Continue on M 37

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Hanover Street
4

Turn left onto M 37

0.4 mi · 55 sec · East Green Street
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto M 37

0.2 mi · 36 sec · South Broadway Street
6

Turn left onto M 37; M 43

0.9 mi · 1 min · West State Street
7

Continue on M 37; M 43

0.6 mi · 51 sec · West State Highway 43
8

Turn right onto Heath Road

1.3 mi · 1 min · Heath Road
Use the right lane.
9

Turn right onto M 37

1.8 mi · 2 min · State Highway 37
10

Continue on M 37

6.3 mi · 8 min · North M-37 Highway
11

Continue on M 37

0.2 mi · 15 sec · South Broadway Street
12

Continue on M 37

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Broadway Street
13

Continue on M 37

0.4 mi · 46 sec · Arlington Street
14

Continue on M 37

4.1 mi · 5 min · North State Highway 37
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Turn left onto 108th Street Southeast

5.5 mi · 7 min · 108th Street Southeast
Use the left lane.
16

Turn right onto Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast

1.2 mi · 1 min · Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast
17

Turn left onto 100th Street Southeast

2.2 mi · 3 min · 100th Street Southeast
18

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward US 131 North: Grand Rapids
19

Merge onto US 131

12 mi · 12 min · US 131
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Exit 84B Toward Cherry Street Downtown
21

Turn right onto Cherry Street Southwest

248 ft · 15 sec · Cherry Street Southwest
22

Turn left onto Ionia Avenue Southwest

0.2 mi · 50 sec · Ionia Avenue Southwest
Use the left lane.
23

Turn right onto Fulton Street West

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Fulton Street West
24

Arrive at destination

Fulton Street West

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Middleville, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middleville, MI

28 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Middleville, MI to Grand Rapids, MI

26.7 mi · 35m

Pacing Suggestions

Cedar Creek, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Middleville, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Bedford, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 18.3 and 56.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
18.3 mi into trip | ~25m in | M 37 / East Green Street

Turn left onto M 37 / East Green Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
20.3 mi into trip | ~29m in | Heath Road

Turn right onto Heath Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
34.9 mi into trip | ~50m in | 108th Street Southeast

Turn left onto 108th Street Southeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
43.9 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | US 131

Merge onto US 131

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
56.2 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | Ionia Avenue Southwest

Turn left onto Ionia Avenue Southwest

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.85 one way

$17.70 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.72 $19.43
premium $4.89 $10.89 $21.78
diesel $5.61 $12.50 $24.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17 0 $5.94 $2.72
Efficient EV 14.2 0 $4.95 $2.26
EV Truck/SUV 22.6 0 $7.92 $3.62

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (65% 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Bedford, MI

Late night in Bedford on Sunday

Local time

12:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Grand Rapids, MI

Late night in Grand Rapids on Sunday

Local time

12:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 18m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 63% of the route utilizing main roads like State Highway 37, US 131, and North M-37 Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.1 miles on State Highway 37, offering a solid segment of consistent driving. While primarily a highway experience, be prepared for potential transitions as you navigate between these main routes. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes efficient travel over winding scenic byways.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.1 mi on State Highway 37.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 37 and US 131. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.3 miles in near M 37 / East Green Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 56.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 18.3 miles (M 37 / East Green Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles (Heath Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (108th Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 56.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 19.1 miles on State Highway 37. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Grand Rapids, 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 18.3 miles (M 37 / East Green Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles (Heath Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (108th Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Grand Rapids, MI before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Explore more options from Bedford, MI or browse trips ending in Grand Rapids, MI.

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