Clinton Township to Ludington is 260 miles and takes about 4 hours 47 minutes via I-96 and US-31, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Michigan, taking you from the Detroit metro area across the state to the Lake Michigan shoreline. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip that's ideal for a single day of driving. You'll spend most of your time on major freeways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
129.9 miles from Clinton Township, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
163.3 mi
2h 54m
US 31
55.9 mi
57m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
25.5 mi
27m
South Groesbeck Highway
7.3 mi
11m
South Pere Marquette Highway
3.2 mi
4m
East Ludington Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
West US Highway 10
0.6 mi
1m
Harrington Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 163.3 mi, about 2h 54m
Traffic on I-96
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 78 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,250 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,874
Quietest
2 AM
~140 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Ludington, 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
54 mi·57 min·I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand RapidsUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 96; M 37
37 mi·39 min·I 96; M 37
Toward I 96 West, M 37 North: MuskegonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward US 31 North: Muskegon, LudingtonUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto US 31
56 mi·57 min·US 31
15
Take the exit onto US-31 BUS
0.5 mi·1 min·US-31 BUS
Toward US 31 Business: Ludington
16
Turn left onto US-31 BUS
3.2 mi·4 min·South Pere Marquette Highway
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 10
0.6 mi·1 min·West US Highway 10
18
Continue on US 10
1.3 mi·3 min·East Ludington Avenue
19
Turn left
110 ft·6 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4 hour 47 minute drive, consider leaving Clinton Township in the morning to arrive in Ludington with plenty of daylight. With a total distance of about 260 miles, it’s a comfortable one-day trip, but you could also break it up if you prefer. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $41, and plan a stop around the halfway point, perhaps near Grand Rapids where I-96 and US-31 converge. This is a good time to stretch your legs and refuel before continuing your journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 129.9 miles from Clinton Township, MI, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 163.3 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 57 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.9 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ludington, 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 259.8 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 163.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 197.9 — 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
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
107.3 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
8
161 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|I 96; M 37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 96; M 37 toward I 96 West, M 37 North: Muskegon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 96 West, M 37 North: Muskegon
8
197.9 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 31 North: Muskegon, Ludington
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 1B
Toward US 31 North: Muskegon, Ludington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.34 one way
$86.68 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$47.29
$94.57
premium
$5.25
$53.73
$107.46
diesel
$6.28
$64.19
$128.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.9
0
$27.28
$12.47
Efficient EV
65
0
$22.73
$10.39
EV Truck/SUV
103.9
1
$36.37
$16.63
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Clinton Township, MI
Morning
in Clinton Township on Friday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ludington, MI
Morning
in Ludington on Friday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Sunny
SW 3 to 9 mph0% 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
7 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
4h 47m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 drive is about 95% highway, meaning you'll be on freeways for the vast majority of the 260 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 163.3 miles on I-96. You'll encounter the Walter P Reuther Freeway near the start, which has a high volume of exits and merges. Expect to transition to surface roads only for the final few miles as you approach Ludington.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 163.3 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and US 31. 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 17 significant decision points across 259.8 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 52.5 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.3 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
982 ft592 ft
Total Climb
506 ft
Total Descent
521 ft
Highest Point
982 ft
~55.7 mi in
Elevation Range
390 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 Ludington, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 37 North: Muskegon along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 47m. Total distance: 259.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 163.3 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 Ludington, 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. There are 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Moravian Drive): Navigation decision point; at 52.5 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.3 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Ludington, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
