Connecting Buena Vista to Farmington Hills, this 89.1-mile journey is a straightforward transit across Michigan’s Midwest landscape. Expect a travel time of approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, making it an easy day trip that requires no overnight stops. You will primarily utilize I-75, US-23, and I-96 to complete the trek. Budgeting around $14 for fuel should comfortably cover the entire trip in a standard vehicle. Since the drive is short and efficient, it serves as a practical link between these two Michigan communities rather than a destination-heavy excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.6 miles from Buena Vista, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
34.2 mi
36m
US 23
30.9 mi
33m
I 96
14.9 mi
15m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
West 11 Mile Road
1 mi
2m
Orchard Lake Road
0.7 mi
1m
South Outer Drive
0.5 mi
1m
East Holland Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 34.2 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buena Vista, MI and Farmington Hills, MI.
1
Start on this road
241 ft·19 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Perkins Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Perkins Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto South Outer Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·South Outer Drive
4
Turn left onto M 46
0.1 mi·10 sec·East Holland Avenue
5
Enter roundabout
238 ft·13 sec
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
6
Continue
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
7
Merge onto I 75; US 23
23 mi·24 min·I 75; US 23
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi·11 min·I 75; US 23
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
31 mi·33 min·US 23
Toward US 23: Ann Arbor
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·37 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
12
Merge onto I 96
15 mi·15 min·I 96
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on I 696
4.9 mi·5 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port HuronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward Farmington HillsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Orchard Lake Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
1.0 mi·2 min·West 11 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto Farmington Road
443 ft·9 sec·Farmington Road
18
Arrive at destination
Farmington Road
Trip Plan
Given the 1-hour and 40-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on these major interstates is always wise. Since there are zero mandatory stops on the itinerary, you can easily complete the 89.1 miles in one go without the need for an extended break. Plan to fill your tank before you leave or upon arrival to keep your $14 fuel budget on track. A helpful tip for this specific route is to monitor traffic reports for I-75 and I-96, as these highways can become congested during morning or evening rushes. Keep your pace steady and enjoy the simplicity of this short Midwestern transit.
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 44.6 miles from Buena Vista, MI, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.2 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.6 miles or 49m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Farmington Hills, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buena Vista, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buena Vista, MI
This is one driving day of about 89.1 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Buena Vista, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 34.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 88.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Perkins Street
At end of road, turn right onto Perkins Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Enter roundabout toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
7
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward Farmington Hills
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward Farmington Hills
6
87.4 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|Orchard Lake Road
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
88.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|West 11 Mile Road
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.93 one way
$27.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.29
$30.59
premium
$4.89
$17.15
$34.29
diesel
$5.61
$19.67
$39.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.7
0
$9.36
$4.28
Efficient EV
22.3
0
$7.80
$3.56
EV Truck/SUV
35.6
0
$12.47
$5.70
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Buena Vista, MI
Morning
in Buena Vista on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 15 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Farmington Hills, MI
Morning
in Farmington Hills on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
4 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 40m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the route taking place on high-speed thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time maintaining steady interstate speeds, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being a 34.2-mile segment on I-75. Because of the heavy reliance on major road systems, the experience feels more like a functional commute than a winding scenic tour. You should anticipate a consistent rhythm behind the wheel as you transition between the three main highways. It is a predictable, direct path that prioritizes speed and efficiency over secondary road exploration.
95% 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: 34.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Perkins Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89.1 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (Perkins Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,016 ft604 ft
Total Climb
553 ft
Total Descent
307 ft
Highest Point
1,016 ft
~52 mi in
Elevation Range
412 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Buena Vista, MI to Farmington Hills, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 5 East: Port Huron along the way.
M 5 East: Port Huron
82 mi in|~1h 30m|via I 696
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 89.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.2 miles on I 75. 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 Farmington Hills, 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: near the start (Perkins Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Farmington Hills, MI before heading back.
