Clinton Township, MI to Ada, MI is 155.9 miles and takes about 2h 58m via I 96, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Michigan, offering a straightforward journey. With 88% of the trip on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it a solid option for a single-day excursion. Expect a relatively quick transit through familiar Midwestern landscapes. This route is best suited for those prioritizing speed and convenience over leisurely exploration.
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
78 miles from Clinton Township, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
111.1 mi
1h 59m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
25.5 mi
27m
South Groesbeck Highway
7.3 mi
11m
Grand River Drive Southeast
3 mi
4m
Cascade Road Southeast
3 mi
4m
Snow Avenue Southeast
2.4 mi
3m
Harrington Street
0.6 mi
1m
East 11 Mile Road
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 111.1 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton Township, MI and Ada, MI.
1
Start on Red Oaks Drive
289 ft·17 sec·Red Oaks Drive
2
Turn left onto White Oaks Drive
0.2 mi·55 sec·White Oaks Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Moravian Drive
0.1 mi·16 sec·Moravian Drive
4
Turn right onto Harrington Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Harrington Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto M 97
7.3 mi·11 min·South Groesbeck Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto East 11 Mile Road
0.5 mi·59 sec·East 11 Mile Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 696 West
8
Merge onto I 696
25 mi·27 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 96
18 mi·19 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
55 mi·58 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
38 mi·41 min·I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 52Toward M 50: LowellUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto Alden Nash Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi·41 sec·Alden Nash Avenue Southeast
14
Turn left onto Cascade Road Southeast
3.0 mi·4 min·Cascade Road Southeast
15
Turn right onto Snow Avenue Southeast
2.4 mi·3 min·Snow Avenue Southeast
16
At end of road, turn left onto Grand River Drive Southeast
3.0 mi·4 min·Grand River Drive Southeast
17
At end of road, turn right onto Buttrick Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi·46 sec·Buttrick Avenue Southeast
18
Turn right onto Thornapple River Drive Southeast
0.5 mi·1 min·Thornapple River Drive Southeast
19
Continue on Headley Street Southeast
351 ft·19 sec·Headley Street Southeast
20
Turn left onto Ada Drive Southeast
0.1 mi·23 sec·Ada Drive Southeast
21
Arrive at destination
Ada Drive Southeast
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 58m duration and 155.9-mile distance, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic leaving the Detroit area. With only one stop recommended, you can plan your break strategically on the 111.1-mile stretch of I 96. The estimated fuel cost is around $24, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Clinton Township to maximize your time on the road. Pay attention to signage as you transition between the Walter P Reuther Freeway, South Groesbeck Highway, and I 96 to maintain your route.
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 78 miles from Clinton Township, MI, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.1 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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78 miles or 1h 29m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ada, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clinton Township, 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 Clinton Township, MI
This is one driving day of about 155.9 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Clinton Township, 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 111.1 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 145.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Moravian Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Moravian Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Harrington Street
Turn right onto Harrington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|M 97 / South Groesbeck Highway
Turn right onto M 97 / South Groesbeck Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
52.5 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
145.7 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward M 50: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward M 50: Lowell
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.37 one way
$48.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.76
$53.52
premium
$4.89
$30.00
$60.00
diesel
$5.61
$34.42
$68.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.8
0
$16.37
$7.48
Efficient EV
39
0
$13.64
$6.24
EV Truck/SUV
62.4
0
$21.83
$9.98
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clinton Township, MI
Late night
in Clinton Township on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 10 mph85% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued April 16 at 1:53PM EDT until April 17 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:16PM CDT by NWS Marquette MI
Destination
Ada, MI
Late night
in Ada on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Clyde, MI
78 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
27 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
2h 58m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 88% of its length on major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on I 96, experiencing the efficiency of interstate travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 111.1 miles on I 96, meaning you can settle in for a significant portion of the trip without many interruptions. While the primary focus is highway driving, the initial and final segments may involve navigating local arterials like South Groesbeck Highway and Walter P Reuther Freeway. The overall experience is one of steady progress towards your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.1 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 0.3 miles in near Moravian Drive.
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 18 significant decision points across 155.9 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 0.3 miles (Moravian Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Harrington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (M 97 / South Groesbeck Highway): 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.
On the drive from Clinton Township, MI to Ada, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 50: Lowell along the way.
M 50: Lowell
145.7 mi in|~2h 42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 155.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.1 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 Ada, 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 0.3 miles (Moravian Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Harrington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (M 97 / South Groesbeck Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ada, MI before heading back.
