Clinton Township, MI to Okemos, MI is 91.5 miles and takes about 1h 47m via I 96 and Walter P Reuther Freeway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, connecting two points in the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day trip, this route is ideal for a quick commute or a short getaway without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.8 miles from Clinton Township, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
53.6 mi
57m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
25.5 mi
27m
South Groesbeck Highway
7.3 mi
11m
Okemos Road
3 mi
6m
Harrington Street
0.6 mi
1m
East 11 Mile Road
0.5 mi
<1m
White Oaks Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Moravian Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 53.6 mi, about 57m
Traffic on I-696
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
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 Okemos, 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
36 mi·38 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 110Toward Mason, OkemosUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto Okemos Road
3.0 mi·6 min·Okemos Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
Okemos Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 1h 47m duration, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Aiming to leave mid-morning can help you avoid the worst of any potential rush hour traffic in the Detroit metro area. While this drive is easily doable in one day, plan for a brief stop around the halfway point if you feel the need to stretch your legs; there are many exits along I 96 that offer services. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost of $14 suggests you won't need to fill up, but it's always wise to confirm your tank level before starting.
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 45.8 miles from Clinton Township, MI, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.6 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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.8 miles or 55m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Okemos, 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 91.5 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 53.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 88.6 — 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.
8
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward Mason, Okemos
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 110
Toward Mason, Okemos
6
88.6 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|Okemos Road
Turn right onto Okemos Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.26 one way
$30.53 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$16.65
$33.31
premium
$5.25
$18.92
$37.85
diesel
$6.18
$22.26
$44.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.5
0
$9.61
$4.39
Efficient EV
22.9
0
$8.01
$3.66
EV Truck/SUV
36.6
0
$12.81
$5.86
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Clinton Township, MI
Afternoon
in Clinton Township on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Okemos, MI
Afternoon
in Okemos on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
SW 5 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
2 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
1h 47m 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 86% of the total distance on major freeways. You'll encounter a 53.6-mile stretch on I 96, which is the longest continuous highway segment. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you transition between the Walter P Reuther Freeway, South Groesbeck Highway, and I 96. The majority of your travel time will be spent cruising on these high-speed roads.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.6 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 91.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.6 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 Okemos, 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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Okemos, MI before heading back.
