Bennington, MI to Livonia, MI is 75.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes via I 96 and I 275, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on major highways, making it a practical choice for getting between these two points efficiently. Expect a functional journey focused on covering ground rather than sightseeing. Given its short duration, it's an ideal same-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.7 miles from Bennington, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
40.9 mi
43m
M 52
18.1 mi
26m
I 275
6.1 mi
6m
Jeffries Freeway
3.3 mi
3m
East Grand River Avenue
1.2 mi
1m
Merriman Road
1 mi
1m
West Bennington Road
1 mi
3m
Stockbridge Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 40.9 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bennington, MI and Livonia, MI.
1
Start on West Bennington Road
1.0 mi·3 min·West Bennington Road
2
Turn right onto M 52
18 mi·26 min·M 52
3
At end of road, turn left onto M 43; M 52
1.2 mi·1 min·East Grand River Avenue
4
Turn right onto M 43; M 52
0.9 mi·1 min·Stockbridge Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
6
Merge onto I 96
41 mi·43 min·I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·34 sec
Exit 163Toward I 96, I 275, M 5 North: Detroit, ToledoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·29 sec
9
Continue on I 275; I 96
6.1 mi·6 min·I 275; I 96
10
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Toward I 96 East: DetroitUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 96
3.3 mi·3 min·Jeffries Freeway
Toward I 96 East: Livonia, Detroit
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 175Toward Merriman RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Schoolcraft Road
477 ft·14 sec·Schoolcraft Road
14
Turn right onto Merriman Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Merriman Road
15
Turn right
98 ft·9 sec
16
Turn right
31 ft·2 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just under 1.5 hours, this route offers great flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps mid-morning to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic in the Detroit metro area. Since it's a shorter trip, you won't need many planned stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated $12 fuel cost suggests efficient consumption, but it's always wise to top off before setting out. A specific tip: be aware that I 96 can experience significant congestion, especially closer to urban centers, so checking live traffic conditions before you leave Bennington is advisable.
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 37.7 miles from Bennington, MI, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.9 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 17 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.7 miles or 51m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livonia, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bennington, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bennington, MI
This is one driving day of about 75.5 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Bennington, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 40.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.2 and 74.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.2 mi into trip|~32m in|M 43; M 52 / Stockbridge Road
Turn right onto M 43; M 52 / Stockbridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
21.4 mi into trip|~34m in|I 96
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
62.4 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 96, I 275, M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 163
Toward I 96, I 275, M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo
6
69.4 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 96 East: Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
7
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Merriman Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 175
Toward Merriman Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.80 one way
$23.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.96
$25.92
premium
$4.89
$14.53
$29.06
diesel
$5.61
$16.67
$33.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.7
0
$7.93
$3.62
Efficient EV
18.9
0
$6.61
$3.02
EV Truck/SUV
30.2
0
$10.57
$4.83
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Bennington, MI
Morning
in Bennington on Sunday
Local time
8:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Livonia, MI
Morning
in Livonia on Sunday
Local time
8:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
1 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
1h 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 67% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 96 and I 275. You'll experience a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey, including a longest stretch of 40.9 miles on I 96. While primarily interstate, there are segments on M 52 that offer a slight change of pace before rejoining the faster highway network. Overall, anticipate a drive characterized by efficient travel on well-maintained roads, with the majority of your time spent on the interstate.
67% 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: 40.9 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and M 52. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.2 miles in near M 43; M 52 / Stockbridge Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 20.2 miles (M 43; M 52 / Stockbridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.4 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 Bennington, MI and Livonia, MI, road signs point toward M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo and Detroit.
M 5 North: Detroit
62.4 mi in|~1h 17m
Toledo
62.4 mi in|~1h 17m
Detroit
70.7 mi in|~1h 28m|via I 96
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 75.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.9 miles on I 96. 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 Livonia, 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 20.2 miles (M 43; M 52 / Stockbridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Livonia, MI before heading back.
