Clinton Township to East Lansing is 97.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 54 minutes via I 96 and Walter P Reuther Freeway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Michigan, connecting two points in the Midwest. The route is predominantly highway, making it a quick and efficient trip. You can expect a steady pace for most of the drive, ideal for a day trip or the start of a longer adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.6 miles from Clinton Township, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
56.8 mi
1h
Walter P Reuther Freeway
25.5 mi
27m
South Groesbeck Highway
7.3 mi
11m
Ransom E Olds Freeway
2.8 mi
3m
East Michigan Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Harrington Street
0.6 mi
1m
East 11 Mile Road
0.5 mi
<1m
US 127
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 56.8 mi, about 1h
Traffic on I-696
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,139 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,957
Quietest
2 AM
~310 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.6×
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 East Lansing, 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
39 mi·41 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 106BToward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
12
Merge onto I 496; US 127
2.8 mi·3 min·Ransom E Olds Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 127
0.4 mi·23 sec·US 127
Exit 8Toward US 127 North: Clare
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 76Toward Kalamazoo St, Michigan Ave
15
Continue on South Homer Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·South Homer Street
16
Turn right onto M 143
1.3 mi·2 min·East Michigan Avenue
17
Turn straight onto M 43
448 ft·26 sec·West Grand River Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto Abbot Road
0.1 mi·29 sec·Abbot Road
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
Abbot Road
Trip Plan
Given this drive is under two hours, you can easily complete it in a single day. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic leaving the Detroit area. With only 97.3 miles, you won't need many stops, but there are plenty of services along I 96 if you need to refuel or stretch your legs. The estimated fuel cost is around $15, so plan accordingly. The longest stretch without an exit is over 50 miles, so make sure you're comfortable before heading into that segment.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.6 miles from Clinton Township, MI, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.8 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 58m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Lansing, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clinton Township, MI
This is one driving day of about 97.3 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Clinton Township, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 56.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 52.5 and 97.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
91.4 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
6
94.9 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|US 127
Keep slight right at fork onto US 127 toward US 127 North: Clare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 8
Toward US 127 North: Clare
6
95.3 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Kalamazoo St, Michigan Ave
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 76
Toward Kalamazoo St, Michigan Ave
7
97.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|Abbot Road
Turn left onto Abbot Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.18 one way
$32.35 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$17.62
$35.24
premium
$5.18
$19.85
$39.71
diesel
$5.35
$20.49
$40.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.2
0
$10.22
$4.67
Efficient EV
24.3
0
$8.51
$3.89
EV Truck/SUV
38.9
0
$13.62
$6.23
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 May 27, 2026
Origin
Clinton Township, MI
Evening
in Clinton Township on Wednesday
Local time
5:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
NNE 2 to 8 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Destination
East Lansing, MI
Evening
in East Lansing on Wednesday
Local time
5:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
NNE 2 to 6 mph4% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 54m 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 mostly highway, with 88% of the drive on faster roads. You'll cover a significant stretch of 56.8 miles on I 96 without needing to exit. The majority of the driving will be on high-speed freeways, so be prepared for merging traffic and frequent exits in populated areas before transitioning to surface roads for the final portion of the trip.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.8 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 52.5 miles in near I 96.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.3 miles you will encounter 16 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 52.5 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 91.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.9 miles (US 127): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 97.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m 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 56.8 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 East Lansing, 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 52.5 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 91.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.9 miles (US 127): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Lansing, MI before heading back.
