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Trip from Clinton Township, MI to Brighton, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 5m

Distance

52.5 mi

85 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 0m ★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Clinton Township, MI, MI

Clinton Township, MI

fish socks

suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States

Brighton, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Clinton Township to Brighton, you are looking at a straightforward 52.5-mile journey across the Michigan Midwest. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 5 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, the trip is highly economical for solo drivers or small groups. You will spend the bulk of your time on major thoroughfares, specifically the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, I-96, and South Groesbeck Highway. Because the transit time is relatively short, there is no need to split this into an overnight affair. It is a practical, efficient connection between these two points that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Walter P Reuther Freeway 25.5 mi 27m
I 96 15.3 mi 16m
South Groesbeck Highway 7.3 mi 11m
Harrington Street 0.6 mi 1m
East 11 Mile Road 0.5 mi <1m
East Main Street 0.5 mi 1m
Spencer Road 0.3 mi <1m
White Oaks Drive 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Walter P Reuther Freeway — 25.5 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clinton Township, MI and Brighton, 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

15 mi · 16 min · I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 11 sec
Exit 148A; 147; 147B Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 45 sec
Toward US 23 South: Spencer Road, Brighton, Ann Arbor
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 96 West: Lansing, Brighton, Spencer Road
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 147 Toward Spencer Road, Brighton
14

Turn right onto Spencer Road

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Spencer Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Continue on Spencer Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Spencer Street
16

Turn right onto East Main Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
17

Turn left onto East Grand River Avenue

50 ft · 1 sec · East Grand River Avenue
18

Arrive at destination

East Grand River Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Oakland County, Michigan, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Southfield, MI

26 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Warren, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Southfield, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.3 miles from Clinton Township, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 49.9 and 51.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
49.9 mi into trip | ~59m in

Take the exit toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint

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 148A; 147; 147B Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spe...
6
50.1 mi into trip | ~1h in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 23 South: Spencer Road, Brighton, Ann Arbor

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 23 South: Spencer Road, Brighton, Ann...
6
50.7 mi into trip | ~1h in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 West: Lansing, Brighton, Spencer Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 96 West: Lansing, Brighton, Spencer Ro...
7
51 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Spencer Road, Brighton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 147 Toward Spencer Road, Brighton
6
51.6 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | Spencer Road

Turn right onto Spencer Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.21 one way

$16.42 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.01 $18.02
premium $4.89 $10.10 $20.21
diesel $5.61 $11.59 $23.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.8 0 $5.51 $2.52
Efficient EV 13.1 0 $4.59 $2.10
EV Truck/SUV 21 0 $7.35 $3.36

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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 18, 2026

Origin

Clinton Township, MI

Late night in Clinton Township on Sunday

Local time

3:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 13 mph 69% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:06PM EDT until April 20 at 3:30PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:03PM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI

Destination

Brighton, MI

Late night in Brighton on Sunday

Local time

3:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

9 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

1h 5m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is defined by a heavy reliance on high-speed infrastructure, with 78% of your journey taking place on highways. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 25.5 miles. While the route feels like a classic highway-focused commute, the transition between these major arteries keeps the drive feeling functional rather than scenic. Navigating the interstates requires focus, but the consistent road quality makes for a predictable experience. You should be prepared for a steady, fast-paced atmosphere that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads or leisurely pace.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.5 mi on Walter P Reuther Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P Reuther Freeway and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 49.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.5 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 49.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 52.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 25.5 miles on Walter P Reuther Freeway. 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 Brighton, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 49.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brighton, MI before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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