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Trip from East Grand Rapids, MI to Lansing, MI

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

Drive Time

1h 16m

Distance

61.3 mi

99 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 10m ★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Kent County, Michigan, United States

East Grand Rapids, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Connecting East Grand Rapids to Lansing is a straightforward 61.3-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes to complete. Because the duration is quite short, you can easily handle this as a simple day trip without needing an overnight stay. Your travel budget should account for roughly $9 in fuel costs, making this an economical option for a quick transit between these two Michigan hubs. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-96, which keeps the journey efficient and predictable. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the transition between them is seamless and familiar. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that prioritizes speed and convenience over scenic detours.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 49.3 mi 52m
West Grand River Avenue 5.7 mi 8m
North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard 1.6 mi 3m
Lake Drive Southeast 1.6 mi 3m
East Paris Avenue Southeast 0.7 mi 1m
West Allegan Street 0.6 mi 1m
Hall Street Southeast 0.6 mi 1m
I 96 BL 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 49.3 mi, about 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Grand Rapids, MI and Lansing, MI.

1

Start on Breton Road Southeast

43 ft · 9 sec · Breton Road Southeast
2

Turn left onto Hall Street Southeast

0.6 mi · 1 min · Hall Street Southeast
Use the left lane.
3

Turn right onto Lake Drive Southeast

1.6 mi · 3 min · Lake Drive Southeast
4

Turn left onto East Paris Avenue Southeast

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Paris Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
5

Turn sharp right onto Cascade Road Southeast

426 ft · 8 sec · Cascade Road Southeast
Use the right lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 96 East: Lansing Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto I 96

49 mi · 52 min · I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Take the exit onto I 96 BL

0.4 mi · 48 sec · I 96 BL
Exit 90 Toward BL I 96: Grand River Ave
9

Turn left onto I 96 BL

5.7 mi · 8 min · West Grand River Avenue
10

Turn right onto North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
11

Continue on North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
12

Continue on North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

0.3 mi · 39 sec · North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
13

Turn left onto CL

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Allegan Street
14

Turn right onto Townsend Street

22 ft · 1 sec · Townsend Street
15

Arrive at destination

Townsend Street

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Portland, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Portland, MI

31 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

Forest Hills, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Portland, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.6 miles from East Grand Rapids, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 3.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Hall Street Southeast

Turn left onto Hall Street Southeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
2.2 mi into trip | ~5m in | East Paris Avenue Southeast

Turn left onto East Paris Avenue Southeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
2.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | Cascade Road Southeast

Turn sharp right onto Cascade Road Southeast

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
3 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the ramp toward I 96 East: Lansing

Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 96 East: Lansing
5
3.4 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 96

Merge onto I 96

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

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.58 one way

$19.17 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.52 $21.04
premium $4.89 $11.80 $23.59
diesel $5.61 $13.53 $27.07

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.4 0 $6.44 $2.94
Efficient EV 15.3 0 $5.36 $2.45
EV Truck/SUV 24.5 0 $8.58 $3.92

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (67% 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 17, 2026

Origin

East Grand Rapids, MI

Morning in East Grand Rapids on Sunday

Local time

7:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lansing, MI

Morning in Lansing on Sunday

Local time

7:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Widespread Fog then Partly Sunny

SSE 2 to 12 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 9:29AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Dense Fog Advisory

Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 9:01AM EDT until April 17 at 12:00PM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

43°F

Portland, MI

31 mi in

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

8 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

1h 16m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This highway-focused drive is defined by a heavy reliance on I-96, which accounts for 81% of your total travel time. You will settle into a steady rhythm during the longest stretch of the trip, which spans 49.3 miles of uninterrupted interstate driving. As you approach Lansing, the route transitions from these fast-paced highway lanes onto West Grand River Avenue and North Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to reach your destination. Expect a functional, high-speed experience that lacks the technical challenges of winding backroads. It is the type of commute where you can maintain a consistent pace, allowing you to cover the distance with minimal stress or navigation changes.

81% 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: 49.3 mi on I 96.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and West Grand River Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hall Street Southeast.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 16m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Hall Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (East Paris Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (Cascade Road Southeast): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 61.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 49.3 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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: near the start (Hall Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (East Paris Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (Cascade Road Southeast): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lansing, MI before heading back.

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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