This 134.4-mile drive from Colfax to Lansing, Michigan, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on I-96, with portions on Apple Avenue and South Warner Avenue. The estimated fuel cost is around $21, making it an economical journey within the Midwest region. With only one recommended stop, the trip offers a straightforward travel experience. This route is ideal if you're looking for a direct and efficient drive between these two Michigan locations, without the need 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
67.2 miles from Colfax, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
58.9 mi
1h 3m
Apple Avenue
12.8 mi
17m
South Warner Avenue
8.2 mi
11m
North Stone Road
7.7 mi
11m
Comstock Avenue
7.1 mi
17m
West Grand River Avenue
5.7 mi
8m
Alpine Avenue Northwest
5.2 mi
7m
Bailey Road
4.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 58.9 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colfax, MI and Lansing, MI.
1
Start on East Jackson Road
2.0 mi·4 min·East Jackson Road
2
Continue on West 13 Mile Road
1.0 mi·2 min·West 13 Mile Road
3
Turn right onto North Dickinson Avenue
2.1 mi·5 min·North Dickinson Avenue
4
Continue on West 11 Mile Road
0.9 mi·2 min·West 11 Mile Road
5
Turn right onto Comstock Avenue
7.1 mi·17 min·Comstock Avenue
6
Turn left onto 4 Mile Road
1.0 mi·2 min·4 Mile Road
7
Turn right onto North Green Avenue
2.2 mi·3 min·North Green Avenue
8
Turn left onto Jefferson Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street
9
Continue on North Stone Road
7.7 mi·11 min·North Stone Road
10
Turn left onto M 82
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
11
Turn right onto M 82
0.6 mi·1 min·South Stewart Avenue
12
Continue on M 82
2.3 mi·3 min·South Warner Avenue
13
Continue on B-35
5.9 mi·8 min·South Warner Avenue
14
Continue on B-35
0.9 mi·1 min·West 118th Street
15
Continue on B-35
1.2 mi·1 min·Luce Avenue
16
Continue on B-35
0.5 mi·39 sec·West 128th Street
17
Turn right onto B-35
2.0 mi·2 min·Alger Avenue
18
Continue on B-35
0.9 mi·1 min·Squires Road
19
Turn left onto Bailey Road
4.9 mi·6 min·Bailey Road
20
Turn right onto M 37
3.2 mi·4 min·North Newaygo Road
21
Enter roundabout onto M 37; M 46
165 ft·1 sec·Apple Avenue
22
Continue on M 37; M 46
13 mi·17 min·Apple Avenue
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on M 37
5.2 mi·7 min·Alpine Avenue Northwest
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·30 sec
Use the left lane.
25
Merge onto I 96; M 37
59 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 96; M 37
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Take the exit onto I 96 BL
0.4 mi·48 sec·I 96 BL
Exit 90Toward BL I 96: Grand River Ave
27
Turn left onto I 96 BL
5.7 mi·8 min·West Grand River Avenue
28
Turn right onto North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.8 mi·1 min·North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
29
Continue on North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.9 mi·1 min·North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
30
Continue on North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.3 mi·39 sec·North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
31
Turn left onto CL
0.6 mi·1 min·West Allegan Street
32
Turn right onto Townsend Street
22 ft·1 sec·Townsend Street
33
Arrive at destination
Townsend Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just over 3 hours, this drive is best suited for a single day. You can depart anytime, but leaving in the morning allows for flexibility should you encounter any unexpected delays. Plan for one stop to break up the 134.4 miles; a rest stop around the halfway point on I-96 would be practical. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, keeping your tank topped off is straightforward. A specific tip for this route: be aware that the transition from I-96 to local roads like Apple Avenue can happen relatively quickly, so stay attentive to navigation as you approach your destination.
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 67.2 miles from Colfax, MI, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.9 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 30 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.2 miles or 1h 50m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lansing, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colfax, 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 Colfax, MI
This is one driving day of about 134.4 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Colfax, 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 58.9 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 125.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3 mi into trip|~7m in|North Dickinson Avenue
Turn right onto North Dickinson Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
6 mi into trip|~14m in|Comstock Avenue
Turn right onto Comstock Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
66.5 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|I 96; M 37
Merge onto I 96; M 37
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
125.8 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|I 96 BL
Take the exit onto I 96 BL toward BL I 96: Grand River Ave
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 90
Toward BL I 96: Grand River Ave
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.01 one way
$42.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.07
$46.14
premium
$4.89
$25.86
$51.73
diesel
$5.61
$29.67
$59.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.3
0
$14.11
$6.45
Efficient EV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
EV Truck/SUV
53.8
0
$18.82
$8.60
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Colfax, MI
Morning
in Colfax on Tuesday
Local time
6:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lansing, MI
Morning
in Lansing on Tuesday
Local time
6:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Grand Rapids, MI
67 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 8m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 44% of the journey on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 58.9 miles on I-96, offering a period of consistent speed. While much of the drive will be on the interstate, you'll also experience local roads like Apple Avenue and South Warner Avenue, which can offer a change of pace. This blend means you'll get a taste of both efficient highway travel and more community-level driving.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.9 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near North Dickinson Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 8m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (North Dickinson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (Comstock Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Lansing is a pleasant city, and as Michigan's state capital, it is home to many government offices. Downtown Lansing has a historic shopping district amidst the campus of Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
The longest stretch is about 58.9 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (North Dickinson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (Comstock Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Lansing, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
