Origin
Brighton, MI
Late night in Brighton on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brighton, MI to Livonia, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
30.4 mi
49 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brighton, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Livonia, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 30.4-mile drive from Brighton to Livonia, Michigan, is easily manageable in about 37 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With 80% of the journey on highways, it's a focused drive designed for efficiency. The estimated fuel cost is around $5, which is quite budget-friendly for such a short distance. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar landscape for local travelers. Given its brevity, you won't need to consider overnight stops, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 14.9 mi | 15m |
| I 275 | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| Jeffries Freeway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Merriman Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Spencer Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Schoolcraft Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Grand River Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 14.9 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brighton, MI and Livonia, MI.
1
Start on East Grand River Avenue
50 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Grand River Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto Spencer Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Spencer Street
4
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-96 EAST: Detroit
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 23 North, I 96 East: Flint, Detroit
Use the slight left lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
7
Merge onto I 96
15 mi
·
15 min
·
I 96
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 163
Toward I 96, I 275, M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
10
Continue on I 275; I 96
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 275; I 96
11
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 96
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Jeffries Freeway
Toward I 96 East: Livonia, Detroit
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 175
Toward Merriman Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto Schoolcraft Road
477 ft
·
14 sec
·
Schoolcraft Road
15
Turn right onto Merriman Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Merriman Road
16
Turn right
98 ft
·
9 sec
17
Turn right
31 ft
·
2 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 28.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 23 North, I 96 East: Flint, Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 23 North, I 96 East: Flint, Detroit
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 East: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
8
17.2 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
24.3 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
28.9 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
$4.75 one way
$9.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.22 | $10.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.85 | $11.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.71 | $13.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Livonia, MI
Late night in Livonia on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 9 to 13 mph
77% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 18 at 12:45AM EDT until April 18 at 1:30AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 18 at 12:42AM EDT until April 18 at 1:15AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
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
10 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
37m 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 drive for the majority of this 30.4-mile trip, with 80% of your time spent on major arteries like I-96, I-275, and the Jeffries Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.9 miles on I-96, offering a period of consistent travel. While predominantly highway, the transition between these roads will be the main change in scenery and driving experience. It's a route built for speed and directness, rather than winding country lanes.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.9 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and I 275. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 30.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 17.2 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brighton, MI and Livonia, MI, road signs point toward M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo and Detroit.
M 5 North: Detroit
17.2 mi in
|
~20m
Toledo
17.2 mi in
|
~20m
Detroit
25.6 mi in
|
~30m
|
via I 96
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 30.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.9 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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 17.2 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.
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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