Origin
Brighton, MI
Late night in Brighton on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brighton, MI to Lansing, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
46.5 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brighton, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Brighton to Lansing, you are in for a quick, straightforward journey across the Midwest. Covering 46.5 miles, this trip typically takes about 53 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. You will primarily navigate via I-96, the Ransom E. Olds Freeway, and East Grand River Avenue. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, the drive is highly economical for those commuting or visiting for the day. Because the route is short and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are heading to the state capital for business or a quick getaway, this drive is designed for speed and convenience rather than a leisurely pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 38 mi | 40m |
| Ransom E Olds Freeway | 5.3 mi | 5m |
| East Grand River Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| South Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Allegan Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Townsend Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 38 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brighton, MI and Lansing, MI.
1
Start on East Grand River Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Grand River Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 96 West
3
Merge onto I 96
38 mi
·
40 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
5
Merge onto I 496; US 127
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Ransom E Olds Freeway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 496
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Ransom E Olds Freeway
Toward I 496 West: Downtown Lansing
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 6
Toward Downtown
8
Turn right onto South Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Walnut Street
9
Turn right onto West Allegan Street
412 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Allegan Street
10
Turn right onto Townsend Street
22 ft
·
1 sec
·
Townsend Street
11
Arrive at destination
Townsend Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.3 miles from Brighton, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 46.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 96
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
39.8 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
5
43.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
I 496 / Ransom E Olds Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 496 / Ransom E Olds Freeway toward I 496 West: Downtown Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 496 West: Downtown Lansing
5
45.7 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Downtown
5
46.5 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
Townsend Street
Turn right onto Townsend Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.27 one way
$14.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.98 | $15.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.95 | $17.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.27 | $20.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.88 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Lansing, MI
Late night in Lansing on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 12 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 4:07PM EDT until April 19 at 6:30PM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 14 at 4:00PM EDT until April 17 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
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
35 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
53m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 93% of this route is comprised of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-96, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 38 miles. The road feels consistent and efficient, moving you steadily across the Michigan landscape without the need for frequent detours. As you transition onto the Ransom E. Olds Freeway and eventually East Grand River Avenue, the environment shifts from interstate cruising to local arterial roads. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes getting you to your destination as quickly as possible.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Ransom E Olds Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near I 96.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 46.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.7 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.3 miles (I 496 / Ransom E Olds Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,005 ft
853 ft
Total Climb
163 ft
Total Descent
234 ft
Highest Point
1,005 ft
~1.9 mi in
Elevation Range
152 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 46.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.7 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.3 miles (I 496 / Ransom E Olds Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lansing, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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