Trip from Clinton Township, MI to Mancelona, MI

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

Drive Time

4h 23m

Distance

228.6 mi

368 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 10m ★

6 AM

4h 24m

8 AM

4h 50m

10 AM

4h 33m

12 PM

4h 30m

3 PM

4h 34m

5 PM

4h 49m

8 PM

4h 16m

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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Clinton Township, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

The drive from Clinton Township, MI to Mancelona, MI covers 228.6 miles and takes about 4h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, M 72, Hall Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 175.3 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.74 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

114.3 miles from Clinton Township, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 75	175.3 mi	3h 1m
M 72	17.6 mi	24m
Hall Road	15.8 mi	20m
Darragh Road Northeast	10.8 mi	18m
Sigma Road Southeast	2 mi	3m
BL I 75	1.8 mi	4m
Cass Avenue	1.6 mi	2m
Romeo Plank Road	1.2 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 75 — 175.3 mi, about 3h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Red Oaks Drive

289 ft · 17 sec · Red Oaks Drive

Turn left onto White Oaks Drive

0.2 mi · 55 sec · White Oaks Drive

At end of road, turn left onto Moravian Drive

1.2 mi · 2 min · Moravian Drive

At end of road, turn left onto Cass Avenue

1.6 mi · 2 min · Cass Avenue

Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road

82 ft · 1 sec · Romeo Plank Road

Continue on Romeo Plank Road

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Romeo Plank Road

Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road

90 ft · 1 sec · Romeo Plank Road

Continue on Romeo Plank Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Romeo Plank Road

Turn right onto M 59

501 ft · 8 sec · Hall Road

Take the exit

259 ft · 9 sec

Toward M 59 West Use the left lane.

Merge onto M 59

16 mi · 20 min · Hall Road

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 40B Toward I 75 North: Flint Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 75

33 mi · 35 min · I 75

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

52 mi · 56 min · I 75

Toward I 75: Saginaw

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23

63 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 75; US 23

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

27 mi · 27 min · I 75

Take the exit onto BL I 75

1.8 mi · 4 min · BL I 75

Toward I 75 Business Loop, M 72: Downtown Grayling, Traverse City

Turn left onto M 72; M 93

18 mi · 24 min · M 72; M 93

Turn right onto CR 571

2.0 mi · 3 min · Sigma Road Southeast

Continue on CR 571; CR 612

11 mi · 18 min · Darragh Road Northeast

Continue on 571

0.4 mi · 45 sec · South Maple Street

Merge onto US 131; M 66

248 ft · 6 sec · South Williams Street

Arrive at destination

US 131; M 66

Trip Plan

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 114.3 miles from Clinton Township, MI, or about 2h 9m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.3 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 50 miles or 1h 1m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 114.3 miles or 2h 9m 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 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mancelona, 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 228.6 miles and 4h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 75 for about 175.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Millington, MI

114 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

Holly, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Freeland, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 114.3 miles from Clinton Township, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 175.3 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Our Town Coffee & Treats

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grayling, Michigan

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 195.9

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+19892178099

Visit website

Detroit Kid City - Clinton Township

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clinton Township, Michigan

1.8 mi

Stardust Entertainment Center

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 98

Saginaw, Michigan

Hours: 12–11 pm

+19897936300

Visit website

Cafe Immortelle

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 16.3

Troy, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12482509858

Visit website

Our Town Coffee & Treats

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 195.9

Grayling, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+19892178099

2.2 mi from route

Independence Oaks County Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 32.7

Village of Clarkston, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–7:30 pm

+12486250877

Visit website

Marshall M Fredericks Sculpture Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 98

University Center, Michigan

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+19899647125

Visit website

Airborne Adventure Park - Saginaw, MI

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 98

Saginaw, Michigan

Hours: 4–8 pm

+19895960022

Visit website

Michigan Heroes Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 81.6

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19896528005

Visit website

Flint Children's Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 65.3

Flint, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18107675437

Visit website

Troy Historic Village

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 16.3

Troy, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12485243570

Visit website

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 1.4 and 20.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | Cass Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto Cass Avenue

Navigation decision point

3.2 mi into trip | ~6m in | Romeo Plank Road

Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

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

4.4 mi into trip | ~8m in | M 59 / Hall Road

Merge onto M 59 / Hall Road

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.74 one way

$71.48 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 80 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$39.24	$78.48
premium	$4.89	$43.99	$87.98
diesel	$5.61	$50.47	$100.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 80 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	68.6	0	$24.00	$10.97
Efficient EV	57.2	0	$20.00	$9.14
EV Truck/SUV	91.4	1	$32.00	$14.63

Gas CO2

80 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (66% 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 Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Clinton Township, MI

Afternoon in Clinton Township on Sunday

Local time

1:46 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms

W 12 to 16 mph 82% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:24AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 8:51AM EDT until April 20 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Destination

Mancelona, MI

Afternoon in Mancelona on Sunday

Local time

1:46 PM

EDT

Current temp

37°F

Scattered Snow Showers

NW 10 to 15 mph 27% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:24AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 8:51AM EDT until April 20 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

44°F

Millington, MI

114 mi in

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

14 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 23m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

228.6 mi in 4h 23m, mostly highway — 175.3 mi of that is on I 75.

77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 175.3 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and M 72. 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 Effort 8/10

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 228.6 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.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Clinton Township, MI and Mancelona, MI, road signs point toward M 72: Downtown Grayling and Traverse City.

M 72: Downtown Grayling

196 mi in | ~3h 31m | via BL I 75

Traverse City

196 mi in | ~3h 31m | via BL I 75

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 228.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 175.3 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 19 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 Mancelona, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Mancelona, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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Explore More

Return Trip

Mancelona, MI to Clinton Township, MI

Plan the drive back the other way.

228.8 mi 4h 23m

Explore more options from Clinton Township, MI or browse trips ending in Mancelona, MI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.

Trip from Clinton Township, MI to Mancelona, MI

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Our Town Coffee & Treats

Stardust Entertainment Center

Cafe Immortelle

Our Town Coffee & Treats

Detroit Kid City - Clinton Township

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.

Coffee First Cafe & Bake Shoppe

Davisburg Rest Area 908

Dodge Road Rest Area 631

Clarkston Rest Area 904

Alger Rest Area 625

Bay City Rest Area 605

Clio Rest Area 612

Linwood Rest Area 626

Grayling Rest Area 403

Nine Mile Hill Rest Area 434

West Branch Rest Area 433

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

TA

Flying J Travel Center

M-81 Express Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Independence Oaks County Park

Marshall M Fredericks Sculpture Museum

Airborne Adventure Park - Saginaw, MI

Michigan Heroes Museum

Flint Children's Museum

Troy Historic Village

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Clinton Township, MI

Mancelona, MI

Same local time

14 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 23m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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