Zou Zou's
Around the midpoint, short detour
Chelsea, Michigan
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+17344334226
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 45m
Distance
134 mi
216 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton Township, MI
fish socks
Girard, MI
fish socks
Clinton Township, MI to Girard, MI is 134 miles and takes about 2 hours 45 minutes via I 94 and M 60, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, moving you from one part of the Midwest to another. Expect a mix of interstate cruising and surface road travel as you make your way across the state. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
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
67 miles from Clinton Township, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 34.5 mi | 36m |
| M 60 | 30.3 mi | 41m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 23.7 mi | 25m |
| M 14 | 21.9 mi | 23m |
| South Groesbeck Highway | 7.3 mi | 11m |
| Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Marshall Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| East Jackson Drive | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,167 veh/hr typical · worst 6,089
Quietest
2 AM
~311 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton Township, MI and Girard, MI.
Start on Red Oaks Drive
Turn left onto White Oaks Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Moravian Drive
Turn right onto Harrington Street
Turn right onto M 97
Turn right onto East 11 Mile Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 696
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 275; I 96
Take the exit
Merge onto M 14
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit onto M 60
Turn slight left onto East Jackson Drive
Turn left onto South Main Street
Continue on Marshall Road
Turn right onto East Girard Road
Arrive at destination
To maximize your daylight, consider an early morning departure from Clinton Township, especially if you plan to stop. With a total driving time of under 3 hours, this route is easily manageable in one day, offering flexibility for when you start. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $21, and remember that the longest stretch without a major change in road type is 34.5 miles on I 94, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you leave that highway 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.
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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67 miles or 1h 20m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Girard, MI than in the middle of the route.
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 134 miles and 2h 45m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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.
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 67 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.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best coffee break · early in the drive
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+12485627708
Vito's Espresso
Spring Arbor, Michigan
BIGGBY COFFEE
Jackson, Michigan
Around the midpoint, short detour
Chelsea, Michigan
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+17344334226
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+12485627708
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Spring Arbor, Michigan
Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm
+15177951694
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Jackson, Michigan
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+15179900800
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Jackson, Michigan
Hours: 6 am–7 pm
+15177952812
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Northville, Michigan
Hours: 8:30 am–3:30 pm
+12483745955
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Royal Oak, Michigan
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+12483077161
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Berkley, Michigan
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+12486914256
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Farmington, Michigan
Hours: 7:30 am–10 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Royal Oak, Michigan
Hours: 10 am–11:30 pm
+15863596944
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+17349971553
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Ferndale, Michigan
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+12488507182
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Clinton Township, Michigan
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Ferndale, Michigan
Hours: 3–10 pm
+12482914305
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Farmington, Michigan
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+12484767928
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~12 min detour
Northville, Michigan
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+12483498390
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 32.8 and 57.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward M 14: Ann Arbor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14 toward M 14: Ann Arbor
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$22.35 one way
$44.71 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.62 | $24.39 | $48.78 |
| premium | $5.25 | $27.71 | $55.43 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $33.11 | $66.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.07 | $6.43 |
| Efficient EV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.73 | $5.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.6 | 0 | $18.76 | $8.58 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Clinton Township on Thursday
Local time
8:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Girard on Thursday
Local time
8:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
About 43% of this 134-mile drive is on highways, primarily I 94. You'll encounter a stretch of 34.5 miles on I 94 before transitioning to M 60 and other surface roads. The frequent exits on I 94 will likely be noticeable as you begin your trip, followed by more open cruising on M 60.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.8 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 134 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 32.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
528 ft
Total Descent
182 ft
Highest Point
1,037 ft
~86.2 mi in
Elevation Range
442 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clinton Township, MI and Girard, MI, road signs point toward Toledo, M 14: Ann Arbor, M 60 and Jackson.
Toledo
M 14: Ann Arbor
M 60
Jackson
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 134 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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