This 117-mile drive from Chester to Clinton Township, Michigan, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. You'll primarily be on major roadways like I-96 and the Walter P Reuther Freeway, with about 72% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest route is around $18. With only one recommended stop, this drive is straightforward and efficient, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick transit between these two Michigan locations.
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
58.5 miles from Chester, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
65 mi
1h 9m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
14 mi
15m
West Vermontville Highway
9 mi
14m
Groesbeck Highway
7.4 mi
12m
West 10 Mile Road
6.7 mi
13m
I 69
3.2 mi
3m
John C Lodge Freeway
2.5 mi
2m
Lansing Road
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 65 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chester, MI and Clinton Township, MI.
1
Start on North Chester Road
1.4 mi·3 min·North Chester Road
2
Turn right onto West Vermontville Highway
9.0 mi·14 min·West Vermontville Highway
3
Turn right onto M 100
0.2 mi·29 sec·Potterville Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on M 100
0.2 mi·31 sec·Hartel Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
6
Merge onto I 69
3.2 mi·3 min·I 69
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Lansing Road
8
Keep slight left at fork
520 ft·13 sec
Toward Lansing Road
9
Turn right onto Lansing Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Lansing Road
10
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I-96 EAST: Detroit
11
Merge onto I 96
65 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
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.
13
Merge onto M 10
2.5 mi·2 min·John C Lodge Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 15Toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen RoadUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto Northwestern Highway
0.2 mi·27 sec·Northwestern Highway
16
Turn left onto West 10 Mile Road
6.6 mi·13 min·West 10 Mile Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on South Chrysler Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·South Chrysler Drive
18
Turn left
297 ft·16 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto North Chrysler Drive
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Chrysler Drive
20
Keep slight right at fork onto West 10 Mile Road
499 ft·10 sec·West 10 Mile Road
21
Continue on East Heights Drive
1.4 mi·2 min·East Heights Drive
22
Continue on Walter P Reuther Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·Walter P Reuther Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 696 East
24
Merge onto I 696
5.1 mi·5 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 26Toward M 97: Groesbeck HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn straight onto East 11 Mile Road
0.5 mi·59 sec·East 11 Mile Road
27
Turn left onto M 97
7.4 mi·12 min·Groesbeck Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
28
Turn left onto Harrington Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Harrington Street
Use the left lane.
29
At end of road, turn left onto Moravian Drive
0.1 mi·17 sec·Moravian Drive
Use the left lane.
30
Turn right onto White Oaks Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·White Oaks Drive
31
Turn right onto Red Oaks Drive
289 ft·12 sec·Red Oaks Drive
32
Arrive at destination
Red Oaks Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 30-minute duration, this 117-mile trip from Chester to Clinton Township is best suited for a single day. Consider departing in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach more urban areas. With the longest stretch being 65 miles on I-96, plan for your fuel and rest stops accordingly. The estimated fuel cost of $18 is quite reasonable, so you won't need to worry about frequent fill-ups. Take advantage of the flexibility this shorter drive offers by leaving when it's most convenient for you.
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 58.5 miles from Chester, MI, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65 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 26 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.5 miles or 1h 12m 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 55m
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 Chester, 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 Chester, MI
This is one driving day of about 117 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Chester, 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 65 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.4 and 116.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10.4 mi into trip|~18m in|M 100 / Potterville Street
Turn right onto M 100 / Potterville Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
93.4 mi into trip|~1h 50m 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
100.6 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
107.9 mi into trip|~2h 14m 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
116.6 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|Moravian Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Moravian Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.29 one way
$36.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.08
$40.17
premium
$4.89
$22.52
$45.03
diesel
$5.61
$25.83
$51.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.1
0
$12.29
$5.62
Efficient EV
29.3
0
$10.24
$4.68
EV Truck/SUV
46.8
0
$16.38
$7.49
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Chester, MI
Morning
in Chester on Tuesday
Local time
11:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clinton Township, MI
Morning
in Clinton Township on Tuesday
Local time
11:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
64°F
Farmington, MI
59 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
2 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 30m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 117-mile journey. With 72% of the route on highways, including a significant 65-mile stretch on I-96, this drive is designed for efficient travel. You'll transition between major interstates and expressways like the Walter P Reuther Freeway, with portions on local roads like West Vermontville Highway. The character of the drive is largely about covering distance quickly, rather than winding through small towns or scenic byways.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Walter P Reuther Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in near M 100 / Potterville Street.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 117 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 10.4 miles (M 100 / Potterville Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 93.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.6 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 Chester, MI and Clinton Township, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East: Port Huron and M 97: Groesbeck Highway.
M 5 East: Port Huron
82 mi in|~1h 37m|via I 696
M 97: Groesbeck Highway
107.9 mi in|~2h 14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 117 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65 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 10.4 miles (M 100 / Potterville Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 93.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.6 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.
