Clare Welcome Center 634
0 mi from route
Trip from Columbus, MI to Troy, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 46m
Distance
232.7 mi
375 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 33m
★
6 AM
4h 47m
8 AM
5h 14m
10 AM
4h 56m
12 PM
4h 53m
3 PM
4h 58m
5 PM
5h 12m
8 PM
4h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, MI
Sašo Vukadinović
Troy, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Columbus, MI to Troy, MI is 232.7 miles and takes about 4h 46m via US 10, I-69, and I-75, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Michigan, making it a straightforward trip between two points in the same state. With an 88% highway share, expect a predominantly high-speed route. It's recommended as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need overnight accommodations if you plan your departure accordingly. This route is ideal if you're looking for efficiency and minimal fuss getting from point A to point B.
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
116.4 miles from Columbus, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 106.1 mi | 2h 4m |
| I 69 | 51.4 mi | 52m |
| I 75 | 36.9 mi | 39m |
| UAW Freeway | 10 mi | 10m |
| Wales Center Road | 5.9 mi | 14m |
| South M 37 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| West 13 Mile Road | 5.1 mi | 12m |
| North Cleveland Drive | 3.6 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 106.1 mi, about 2h 4m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,394 veh/hr typical · worst 3,789
Quietest
2 AM
~106 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Columbus, MI and Troy, MI.
1
Start on Rattle Run Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Rattle Run Road
2
Turn right onto Wales Center Road
5.9 mi
·
14 min
·
Wales Center Road
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Merge onto I 69
51 mi
·
52 min
·
I 69
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 475: Detroit, Saginaw
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 475 North: Saginaw
7
Merge onto I 475
10 mi
·
10 min
·
UAW Freeway
8
Merge onto I 75; US 23
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 75; US 23
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 162B
Toward US 10 West: Midland
10
Continue on US 10
11 mi
·
11 min
·
US 10
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
US 10
Toward US 10: Clare
12
Take the exit onto US 10
57 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
US 10
Toward US 10 WEST, TO M 115: Ludington, Cadillac
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
East Washington
14
Turn left onto M 37
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
South M 37
15
Continue on M 37
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Michigan Avenue
16
Continue on M 37
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
South M 37
17
Continue on M 37
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Woodbridge Avenue
18
Turn right onto West 15 Mile Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 15 Mile Road
19
Continue on North Bingham Avenue
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Bingham Avenue
20
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
West Main Street
21
Continue on North Cleveland Drive
3.6 mi
·
8 min
·
North Cleveland Drive
22
Continue on West 13 Mile Road
5.1 mi
·
12 min
·
West 13 Mile Road
23
Turn right onto North Dickinson Avenue
133 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Dickinson Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
North Dickinson Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 46m estimated duration, leaving in the morning will allow you to complete this 232.7-mile drive well before evening. The fuel cost is estimated at $41, so ensure your tank is full before you depart, especially since the longest stretch without a significant break is over 100 miles. While the drive is manageable in a single day, consider breaking up the 106.1-mile segment on US 10 if you prefer more frequent stops. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you get closer to Troy, as metropolitan areas can experience congestion.
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 116.4 miles from Columbus, MI, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.1 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 51 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.4 miles or 2h 11m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Troy, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbus, 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 Columbus, MI
This is one driving day of about 232.7 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Columbus, 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 US 10 for about 106.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 116.4 miles from Columbus, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Dodge Road Rest Area 631
0.1 mi from route
Bay City Rest Area 605
0.1 mi from route
Clio Rest Area 612
0.1 mi from route
Five Lakes Rest Area 629
0.1 mi from route
Capac Rest Area 913
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
M-81 Express Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Shrine of the Pines
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.6 mi from route
~2 min detour
Baldwin, Michigan
+12317457892
Marshall M Fredericks Sculpture Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
University Center, Michigan
Hours: 11 am–5 pm
+19899647125
Visit websiteAirborne Adventure Park - Saginaw, MI
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Saginaw, Michigan
Hours: 4–8 pm
+19895960022
Visit websiteCrossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Flint, Michigan
Hours: Closed
+18107367100
Visit websiteStardust Entertainment Center
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Halfway reset
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
Saginaw, Michigan
Hours: 12–11 pm
+19897936300
Visit websiteMichigan Heroes Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour
Early stretch
4.5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19896528005
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 106.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Wales Center Road
Turn right onto Wales Center Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
6.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
58.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 475: Detroit, Saginaw
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 475: Detroit, Saginaw
5
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 475 North: Saginaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 475 North: Saginaw
5
106.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 10 West: Midland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 162B
Toward US 10 West: Midland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.36 one way
$68.73 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $37.94 | $75.87 |
| premium | $4.72 | $43.21 | $86.41 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $43.94 | $87.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.8 | 0 | $24.43 | $11.17 |
| Efficient EV | 58.2 | 0 | $20.36 | $9.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.1 | 1 | $32.58 | $14.89 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Origin
Columbus, MI
Afternoon in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
1:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 15 mph
60% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 12:34PM EDT until July 18 at 1:00PM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:32PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Troy, MI
Afternoon in Troy on Sunday
Local time
1:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Areas Of Smoke
NNW 14 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 12:34PM EDT until July 18 at 1:00PM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:32PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
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
5 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 46m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 88% of the 232.7 miles on freeways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 106.1 miles on US 10, which will likely feel like continuous cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur later in the drive, as indicated by the high highway percentage. Expect a good number of exits and potential for merging traffic as you approach the Detroit metropolitan area.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.1 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Wales Center Road.
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 15 significant decision points across 232.7 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 0.8 miles (Wales Center Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 58.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,226 ft
588 ft
Total Climb
1,012 ft
Total Descent
861 ft
Highest Point
1,226 ft
~200.6 mi in
Elevation Range
637 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Columbus, MI and Troy, MI, road signs point toward Saginaw, To M 115: Ludington and Cadillac.
Saginaw
58.4 mi in
|
~1h 9m
To M 115: Ludington
155.7 mi in
|
~2h 51m
|
via US 10
Cadillac
155.7 mi in
|
~2h 51m
|
via US 10
About the Cities
Starting in Columbus, MI
Full guide →Arriving in Troy, MI
Full guide →Troy is a city in Michigan and a suburb of Detroit.
Top landmarks
- • Brooks Farm — also known as the William Brooks Farm, historic farmsite in Troy, Michigan, U.S
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 46m. Total distance: 232.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.1 miles on US 10. 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 Troy, 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 0.8 miles (Wales Center Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 58.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Troy, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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