Clinton Township, MI to Au Train, MI is 416.2 miles and takes about 7h 42m via I 75 and US-2 West, with a fuel budget near $74 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Midwest's more populated areas into the Upper Peninsula, also in the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on well-maintained highways. Plan for a single, full day of driving to cover the distance comfortably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
208.1 miles from Clinton Township, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
265.7 mi
4h 35m
US-2 West
62.1 mi
1h 12m
M-28
44.3 mi
53m
M 77
17.3 mi
20m
Hall Road
15.8 mi
20m
US 2
3.2 mi
3m
East Munising
2.2 mi
4m
Cass Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 265.7 mi, about 4h 35m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 43 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,882 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,736
Quietest
2 AM
~90 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton Township, MI and Au Train, 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
1.2 mi·2 min·Moravian Drive
4
At end of road, turn left onto Cass Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Cass Avenue
5
Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road
82 ft·1 sec·Romeo Plank Road
6
Continue on Romeo Plank Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Romeo Plank Road
7
Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road
90 ft·1 sec·Romeo Plank Road
8
Continue on Romeo Plank Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Romeo Plank Road
9
Turn right onto M 59
501 ft·8 sec·Hall Road
10
Take the exit
259 ft·9 sec
Toward M 59 WestUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto M 59
16 mi·20 min·Hall Road
Use the left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 40BToward I 75 North: FlintUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 75
33 mi·35 min·I 75
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
52 mi·56 min·I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 75; US 23
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
118 mi·2 hr 1 min·I 75
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 344BToward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
18
Merge onto US 2; I 75 BL
0.7 mi·1 min·US-2 West
19
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi·3 min·US 2
20
Continue on US 2
61 mi·1 hr 11 min·US-2 West
21
Turn right onto M 77
17 mi·20 min·M 77
22
Turn sharp left onto M 28
35 mi·41 min·M-28
23
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi·28 sec·Cedar Street
24
Enter roundabout onto M 28
194 ft·11 sec·East Munising
25
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi·4 min·East Munising
26
Continue on M 28
9.2 mi·11 min·M-28
27
Turn left onto H-03
0.2 mi·23 sec·Arbutus Street
28
Turn left onto Woodland Avenue
213 ft·9 sec·Woodland Avenue
29
Arrive at destination
Woodland Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7.5-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid any potential traffic and maximize daylight. With only two recommended stops, you can plan them strategically, perhaps one midway for a break and fuel. The longest stretch is over 265 miles on I 75, so ensure you have enough fuel before entering that segment. Given it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but keeping an eye on the remaining miles to Au Train will help you gauge your arrival time.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 208.1 miles from Clinton Township, MI, or about 3h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 265.7 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 92 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 208.1 miles or 3h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Au Train, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clinton Township, MI
This is one driving day of about 416.2 miles and 7h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 miles from Clinton Township, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 265.7 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 286.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|Cass Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Cass Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in|Romeo Plank Road
Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
4.3 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward M 59 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward M 59 West
7
20.1 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward I 75 North: Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40B
Toward I 75 North: Flint
6
286.4 mi into trip|~5h 5m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 344B
Toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.46 one way
$122.93 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg146 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$67.85
$135.71
premium
$4.72
$77.28
$154.55
diesel
$4.80
$78.59
$157.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 145.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
124.9
1
$43.70
$19.98
Efficient EV
104.1
1
$36.42
$16.65
EV Truck/SUV
166.5
2
$58.27
$26.64
Gas CO2
146 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Clinton Township, MI
Late night
in Clinton Township on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Smoke
ENE 1 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Au Train, MI
Late night
in Au Train on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Smoke
SE 0 to 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
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
10 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
7h 42m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coa...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$25
near mile 387.5
Park Closure: Munising Falls Trail Closed Until Further Notice
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 80% of the travel occurring on major roadways like I 75 and US-2 West. You'll experience a long stretch of 265.7 miles on I 75, which means plenty of consistent cruising. The transition to more rural roads will happen after this major highway segment, offering a change in pace as you approach your destination.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 265.7 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US-2 West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near Cass Avenue.
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 20 significant decision points across 416.2 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 1.4 miles (Cass Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (Romeo Plank Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,336 ft589 ft
Total Climb
1,311 ft
Total Descent
1,309 ft
Highest Point
1,336 ft
~208.1 mi in
Elevation Range
747 ft
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 Au Train, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Escanaba along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 42m. Total distance: 416.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 42m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 265.7 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 34 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Au Train, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (Cass Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (Romeo Plank Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Au Train, MI before the return drive.
