Planning a trip from Carlton to Clinton Township? This 136.5-mile drive will take you about 2 hours and 53 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. The route primarily utilizes I 96 and the Walter P Reuther Freeway, giving it a highway-focused feel. With an estimated fuel cost of $21, it's an economical option for exploring Michigan. Both your starting and ending points are within the Midwest region, so you'll be traversing familiar territory throughout this journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.3 miles from Carlton, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
66.9 mi
1h 11m
Grand Ledge Highway
15.2 mi
21m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
14 mi
15m
Groesbeck Highway
7.4 mi
12m
West 10 Mile Road
6.7 mi
13m
East Saginaw Highway
4.1 mi
6m
East Carlton Center Road
4 mi
5m
East M-43 Highway
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 66.9 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlton, MI and Clinton Township, MI.
1
Start on Usborne Road
69 ft·6 sec·Usborne Road
2
Turn left onto M 43
3.0 mi·4 min·East M-43 Highway
3
Continue on M 43
2.5 mi·3 min·East Carlton Center Road
4
Continue on M 43
1.0 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
5
Continue on M 43
1.6 mi·2 min·East Carlton Center Road
6
Turn left onto M 43; M 66
1.4 mi·1 min·North M-66 Highway
7
Continue on M 43; M 66
1.0 mi·1 min·Saddlebag Lake Road
8
Turn right onto M 43; M 50
15 mi·21 min·Grand Ledge Highway
9
Continue on M 43
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 43
10
Enter roundabout onto M 43
123 ft·5 sec·State Highway 43
11
Continue on M 43
0.3 mi·29 sec·State Highway 43
12
Continue on M 43
4.1 mi·6 min·East Saginaw Highway
Use the right lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 69 South, I 96 East: Fort Wayne, Detroit
14
Merge onto I 69; I 96
2.8 mi·2 min·I 69; I 96
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
67 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 96
Toward I 96 East: DetroitUse the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on I 696
8.9 mi·10 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port HuronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto M 10
2.5 mi·2 min·John C Lodge Freeway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 15Toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen RoadUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto Northwestern Highway
0.2 mi·27 sec·Northwestern Highway
20
Turn left onto West 10 Mile Road
6.6 mi·13 min·West 10 Mile Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on South Chrysler Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·South Chrysler Drive
22
Turn left
297 ft·16 sec
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto North Chrysler Drive
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Chrysler Drive
24
Keep slight right at fork onto West 10 Mile Road
499 ft·10 sec·West 10 Mile Road
25
Continue on East Heights Drive
1.4 mi·2 min·East Heights Drive
26
Continue on Walter P Reuther Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·Walter P Reuther Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
27
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 696 East
28
Merge onto I 696
5.1 mi·5 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 26Toward M 97: Groesbeck HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn straight onto East 11 Mile Road
0.5 mi·59 sec·East 11 Mile Road
31
Turn left onto M 97
7.4 mi·12 min·Groesbeck Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
32
Turn left onto Harrington Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Harrington Street
Use the left lane.
33
At end of road, turn left onto Moravian Drive
0.1 mi·17 sec·Moravian Drive
Use the left lane.
34
Turn right onto White Oaks Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·White Oaks Drive
35
Turn right onto Red Oaks Drive
289 ft·12 sec·Red Oaks Drive
36
Arrive at destination
Red Oaks Drive
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 53-minute drive, consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic, especially as you approach Clinton Township. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $21, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly before the longest stretch of 66.9 miles on I 96. Since this is a manageable day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.3 miles from Carlton, MI, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.9 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 30 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.3 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton Township, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carlton, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carlton, MI
This is one driving day of about 136.5 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Carlton, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 66.9 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 34.6 and 136.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
34.6 mi into trip|~48m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 East: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
8
112.9 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen Road
6
120.1 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
127.4 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward M 97: Groesbeck Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26
Toward M 97: Groesbeck Highway
6
136.1 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|Moravian Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Moravian Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.34 one way
$42.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.43
$46.86
premium
$4.89
$26.27
$52.54
diesel
$5.61
$30.14
$60.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.9
0
$14.33
$6.55
Efficient EV
34.1
0
$11.94
$5.46
EV Truck/SUV
54.6
0
$19.11
$8.74
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Carlton, MI
Morning
in Carlton on Tuesday
Local time
10:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clinton Township, MI
Morning
in Clinton Township on Tuesday
Local time
10:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Farmington, MI
68 mi in
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
20 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
2h 53m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 136.5-mile journey. With 64% of the drive on highways, you'll spend a significant amount of time on routes like I 96 and the Walter P Reuther Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 66.9 miles on I 96, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the route is largely highway-oriented, segments on roads like Grand Ledge Highway will offer slight variations in the driving experience.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.9 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Grand Ledge Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 34.6 miles in near I 96.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 136.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 34.6 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Carlton, MI and Clinton Township, MI, road signs point toward Detroit, M 5 East: Port Huron and M 97: Groesbeck Highway.
Detroit
31.3 mi in|~44m
M 5 East: Port Huron
101.5 mi in|~2h|via I 696
M 97: Groesbeck Highway
127.4 mi in|~2h 37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 136.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.9 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 Clinton Township, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 34.6 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clinton Township, MI before heading back.
