Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
17.2 mi
28 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Caspian, MI
O.Sha
Tobin Location, MI
fish socks
This short, 17.2-mile drive from Caspian to Tobin Location, Michigan, is easily manageable in just 23 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, including West Adams Street and County Road 424, with a brief stint on M 189. Given its minimal distance and duration, there's no need for an overnight stay. Expect a modest fuel cost of around $3 for this journey within the Midwest region. The overall feel is that of a straightforward, turn-heavy local commute, ideal for a quick transfer or a short excursion.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Adams Street | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| M 189 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| County Road 424 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Tobin-Alpha Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Railroad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Caspian Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Caspian, MI and Tobin Location, MI.
Start on West Caspian Avenue
Turn left onto East Railroad Street
Continue on County Road 424
At end of road, turn right onto M 189
Turn right onto US 2
Turn right onto Tobin-Alpha Road
Arrive at destination
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 16.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto East Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto M 189
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 2 / West Adams Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Tobin-Alpha Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.87 one way
$5.74 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.12 | $6.24 |
| premium | $5.26 | $3.56 | $7.12 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $4.18 | $8.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Caspian on Saturday
Local time
1:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Afternoon in Tobin Location on Saturday
Local time
1:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' with zero highway percentage. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 14.5 miles on West Adams Street, indicating a journey that involves frequent changes in direction rather than sustained highway speeds. This route is characterized by its local road network, suggesting you'll be passing through more community-focused areas rather than open, high-speed thoroughfares. The experience behind the wheel will likely be more about navigating intersections and local traffic patterns than covering long distances quickly.
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 0.1 miles in near East Railroad Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 23m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (M 189): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (US 2 / West Adams Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
491 ft
Total Descent
428 ft
Highest Point
1,704 ft
~7.4 mi in
Elevation Range
313 ft
Founded 1918
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 17.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m 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.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Caspian, MI or browse trips ending in Tobin Location, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.
