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Trip from Butler, MI to Gilead, MI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

51m

Distance

31.4 mi

51 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 47m ★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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Downtown Butler, MI, MI

Butler, MI

Alberto Ramírez Sobrino

Downtown Gilead, MI, MI

Gilead, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

Butler, MI to Gilead, MI is 31.4 miles and takes about 51 minutes via Chicago Road, Jonesville Road, and Clarendon Road, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily through the Midwest's rural landscapes. Given its short distance, you'll find it's an easy drive that doesn't demand extensive planning. Expect a local feel throughout, making it a good option for a relaxed journey between these two Michigan points.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Chicago Road 8.9 mi 11m
Jonesville Road 6.6 mi 9m
Clarendon Road 5.2 mi 7m
Gilead Lake Road 4.7 mi 11m
Marshall Road 2 mi 3m
West Chicago Street 1.6 mi 3m
West Central Road 1.1 mi 2m
Marshall Street 1.1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Chicago Road — 8.9 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Butler, MI and Gilead, MI.

1

Start on Clarendon Road

2.7 mi · 3 min · Clarendon Road
2

Continue on Clarendon Road

2.6 mi · 3 min · Clarendon Road
3

At end of road, turn right onto Jonesville Road

6.6 mi · 9 min · Jonesville Road
4

Turn left onto Marshall Road

2.0 mi · 3 min · Marshall Road
5

Continue on Marshall Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · Marshall Street
6

Turn right onto US 12

1.4 mi · 3 min · West Chicago Street
7

Continue on US 12

0.1 mi · 13 sec · West Chicago Street
8

Continue on US 12

8.9 mi · 11 min · Chicago Road
9

Turn slight left onto White Star Drive

0.1 mi · 24 sec · White Star Drive
10

Turn left onto West Central Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · West Central Road
11

Continue on Gilead Lake Road

3.0 mi · 7 min · Gilead Lake Road
12

At end of road, turn right onto Cranson Road

204 ft · 12 sec · Cranson Road
13

Turn left onto Gilead Lake Road

1.7 mi · 4 min · Gilead Lake Road
14

Arrive at destination

Gilead Lake Road

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Bethel, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bethel, MI

16 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

Bronson, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Girard, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 15.7 miles from Butler, 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 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 29.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
5.2 mi into trip | ~7m in | Jonesville Road

At end of road, turn right onto Jonesville Road

Navigation decision point

4
11.8 mi into trip | ~16m in | Marshall Road

Turn left onto Marshall Road

Navigation decision point

4
14.9 mi into trip | ~21m in | US 12 / West Chicago Street

Turn right onto US 12 / West Chicago Street

Navigation decision point

4
25.5 mi into trip | ~36m in | West Central Road

Turn left onto West Central Road

Navigation decision point

5
29.7 mi into trip | ~46m in | Cranson Road

At end of road, turn right onto Cranson Road

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.87 one way

$9.74 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $5.34 $10.68
premium $4.93 $6.09 $12.18
diesel $5.60 $6.92 $13.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.4 0 $3.30 $1.51
Efficient EV 7.9 0 $2.75 $1.26
EV Truck/SUV 12.6 0 $4.40 $2.01

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.

Forecast as of Aug 23, 2026

Origin

Butler, MI

Afternoon in Butler on Friday

Local time

3:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

NW 5 to 15 mph 15% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued August 23 at 4:17AM EDT until August 23 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued August 23 at 3:22AM EDT until August 24 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Destination

Gilead, MI

Afternoon in Gilead on Friday

Local time

3:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

NW 5 to 15 mph 15% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued August 23 at 4:17AM EDT until August 23 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued August 23 at 3:22AM EDT until August 24 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

59°F

Bethel, MI

16 mi in

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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

51m 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?

This route is characterized by its frequent turns and local road feel, with a 0% highway share. You'll experience a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entire 31.4 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll navigate is 8.9 miles along Chicago Road. This means you'll be adjusting your speed and direction often, so stay alert and keep your focus on the road ahead. It's a drive that keeps you engaged without the high speeds of interstate travel.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.9 mi on Chicago Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in near Jonesville Road.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 51m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles (Jonesville Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles (Marshall Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles (US 12 / West Chicago Street): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,063 ft 919 ft

Total Climb

135 ft

Total Descent

183 ft

Highest Point

1,063 ft

~2.2 mi in

Elevation Range

144 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Butler, MI

Full guide →

Arriving in Gilead, MI

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 31.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 8.9 miles on Chicago Road. 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 5.2 miles (Jonesville Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles (Marshall Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles (US 12 / West Chicago Street): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gilead, 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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