Connecting Belmont to Clinton Township, this 174.1-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Michigan. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You will primarily utilize I-96, I-69, and I-75 to navigate between these two Midwest locations. Budgeting around $26 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Because the drive is relatively short and highway-focused, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or complex route planning. It is a practical, efficient path for travelers looking to move quickly between the west side of the state and the Detroit metropolitan area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87 miles from Belmont, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
51.5 mi
52m
I 96
50.8 mi
54m
I 75
38.7 mi
41m
M 59
16 mi
20m
East Beltline Avenue Northeast
5.9 mi
8m
Cass Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
West River Drive Northeast
1.5 mi
2m
Romeo Plank Road
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 51.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belmont, MI and Clinton Township, MI.
1
Start on Lynhurst Street Northeast
27 ft·6 sec·Lynhurst Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto Belmont Avenue Northeast
0.6 mi·58 sec·Belmont Avenue Northeast
3
At end of road, turn left onto Jupiter Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi·20 sec·Jupiter Avenue Northeast
4
Turn left onto West River Drive Northeast
1.5 mi·2 min·West River Drive Northeast
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto M 44
0.6 mi·1 min·Northland Drive Northeast
6
Continue on M 44
5.9 mi·8 min·East Beltline Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 96 East: LansingUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 96
51 mi·54 min·I 96
Toward I 96: LansingUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
2.5 mi·2 min
Exit 89Toward I 69 East: Flint
10
Merge onto I 69
52 mi·52 min·I 69
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 75, US 23: Saginaw, DetroitUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
13
Merge onto I 75; US 23
1.9 mi·2 min·I 75; US 23
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
37 mi·39 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 77AToward M 59 East: UticaUse the right lane.
16
Merge onto M 59
16 mi·20 min·M 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Romeo Plank Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Romeo Plank Road
Use the right lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road
112 ft·2 sec·Romeo Plank Road
19
Continue on Romeo Plank Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Romeo Plank Road
20
Enter roundabout onto Cass Avenue
123 ft·2 sec·Cass Avenue
21
Continue on Cass Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Cass Avenue
22
Turn right onto Moravian Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Moravian Drive
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto White Oaks Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·White Oaks Drive
24
Turn right onto Red Oaks Drive
289 ft·12 sec·Red Oaks Drive
25
Arrive at destination
Red Oaks Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 16-minute transit, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route relies heavily on major interstates, check local traffic reports for I-75 before departing to avoid potential congestion near the destination. Leaving early in the day can help you beat the heaviest commuter traffic, providing a much smoother experience on the road. Remember that your $26 fuel budget is an estimate, so keep an eye on your gauge as you navigate the longest 51.5-mile stretch. The flexibility of this shorter drive allows you to easily adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule.
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 87 miles from Belmont, MI, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.5 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton Township, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belmont, 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 Belmont, MI
This is one driving day of about 174.1 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Belmont, 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 69 for about 51.5 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.9 and 153.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8.9 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 96 East: Lansing
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 96 East: Lansing
6
9.2 mi into trip|~13m in|I 96
Merge onto I 96 toward I 96: Lansing
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 96: Lansing
7
114.1 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
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 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
6
114.5 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
7
153.6 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward M 59 East: Utica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 77A
Toward M 59 East: Utica
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.22 one way
$54.44 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.88
$59.77
premium
$4.89
$33.50
$67.01
diesel
$5.61
$38.44
$76.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.2
0
$18.28
$8.36
Efficient EV
43.5
0
$15.23
$6.96
EV Truck/SUV
69.6
0
$24.37
$11.14
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Belmont, MI
Late night
in Belmont on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clinton Township, MI
Late night
in Clinton Township on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 10 mph85% chanceLive 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
27 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
3h 16m 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?
This route is defined by its reliance on major interstates, with 81% of your travel occurring on high-speed highways. You will experience a consistent, highway-focused drive that favors efficiency over winding backroads. Prepare for a steady pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 51.5 miles while navigating I-69. The transition between these major arteries keeps the drive moving steadily, though you should anticipate the typical flow of traffic associated with Michigan's primary transit corridors. It is an honest, utilitarian commute that prioritizes speed and directness for those looking to reach their destination without unnecessary detours.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.5 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 174.1 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 8.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Belmont, MI and Clinton Township, MI, road signs point toward Detroit and M 59 East: Utica.
Detroit
114.1 mi in|~2h 3m
M 59 East: Utica
153.6 mi in|~2h 47m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 174.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.5 miles on I 69. 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 Clinton Township, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Clinton Township, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
