Clinton Township, MI to Muskegon Heights, MI is 201.3 miles and takes about 3h 44m via I 96, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, moving across the Midwest region. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward option if you're looking for efficiency. With a recommended one-day duration, you can expect a relatively quick transit between these two points without needing to plan for an overnight stay.
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
100.7 miles from Clinton Township, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
164.9 mi
2h 56m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
25.5 mi
27m
South Groesbeck Highway
7.3 mi
11m
South Getty Street
1.1 mi
2m
East Broadway Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Harrington Street
0.6 mi
1m
East 11 Mile Road
0.5 mi
<1m
White Oaks Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 164.9 mi, about 2h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton Township, MI and Muskegon Heights, 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
38 mi·41 min·I 96; M 37
Toward I 96 West, M 37 North: MuskegonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto South Getty Street
1.1 mi·2 min·South Getty Street
14
Turn left onto East Broadway Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·East Broadway Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
East Broadway Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 44m estimated drive time, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. You might consider leaving in the morning to give yourself plenty of daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic on the freeways. While the drive is relatively short, planning for one stop is built into the recommended day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 164.9-mile stretch on I 96, as services might be less frequent in certain sections.
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 100.7 miles from Clinton Township, MI, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.9 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 44 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.7 miles or 1h 54m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Muskegon Heights, 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 201.3 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 164.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 161 — 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
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Harrington Street
Turn right onto Harrington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.47 one way
$62.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.55
$69.11
premium
$4.89
$38.74
$77.48
diesel
$5.61
$44.44
$88.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.4
0
$21.14
$9.66
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.61
$8.05
EV Truck/SUV
80.5
1
$28.18
$12.88
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Clinton Township, MI
Morning
in Clinton Township on Sunday
Local time
7:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 12 to 16 mph90% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 8:36AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 18 at 8:13AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Destination
Muskegon Heights, MI
Morning
in Muskegon Heights on Sunday
Local time
7:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Chelsea, MI
101 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
23 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
3h 44m 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 almost entirely highway, with a 95% highway share, giving it a consistent, fast-paced feel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 164.9 miles, which occurs on I 96. Expect to spend the bulk of your time on major freeways like I 96 and the Walter P Reuther Freeway. This profile means fewer distractions from local traffic and more focus on covering distance efficiently. It's a dependable drive for getting from point A to point B.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 164.9 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 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 13 significant decision points across 201.3 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 0.4 miles (Harrington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.5 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Clinton Township, MI to Muskegon Heights, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 37 North: Muskegon along the way.
M 37 North: Muskegon
161 mi in|~2h 58m|via I 96; M 37
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 201.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m 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 164.9 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 Muskegon Heights, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Moravian Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Harrington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.5 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Muskegon Heights, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
