Farmington Hills, MI to Conway, MI is 264.7 miles and takes about 4h 44m via I-75, US-23, and I-96, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive that should be manageable for most drivers in a single day. The route is primarily highway, making for efficient travel time. Consider this a good option if you're looking for a direct way to get from Southeast Michigan to the northern part of the Lower Peninsula.
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
132.4 miles from Farmington Hills, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
145.9 mi
2h 26m
US 23
79.3 mi
1h 25m
I 96
15.3 mi
16m
M-68
9.3 mi
14m
Burr Avenue
5.1 mi
8m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
4.5 mi
4m
West 12 Mile Road
1 mi
1m
Farmington Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 145.9 mi, about 2h 26m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,617 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,601
Quietest
2 AM
~82 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Farmington Hills, MI and Conway, MI.
1
Start on Farmington Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Farmington Road
2
Turn right onto West 12 Mile Road
1.0 mi·1 min·West 12 Mile Road
3
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
256 ft·4 sec·Orchard Lake Road
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
5
Merge onto I 696
4.5 mi·4 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight lane.
6
Merge onto I 96
15 mi·16 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·11 sec
Exit 148A; 147; 147BToward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, FlintUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·54 sec
Exit 148BToward US 23 North: FlintUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 23
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·US 23
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 75; US 23
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
83 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 75
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 310Toward M 68: Rogers City, Petoskey, Indian River
13
Turn left onto M 68
0.6 mi·1 min·M-68
14
Turn left onto M 68
0.9 mi·1 min·South Straits Highway
15
Turn right onto M 68
8.7 mi·12 min·M-68
16
Continue on M 68
0.5 mi·53 sec·Chicago Street
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 31
5.1 mi·8 min·Burr Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto West Conway Road
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Conway Road
19
Turn left onto Heydey Street
244 ft·10 sec·Heydey Street
20
Arrive at destination
Heydey Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 44m drive time, leaving Farmington Hills in the morning is ideal to take advantage of daylight. The longest stretch without a break is 145.9 miles on I-75, so plan a stop before or after this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $40, it's wise to fill up before heading out. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility; consider an early start to allow for any unexpected delays or a leisurely pace. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads 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 132.4 miles from Farmington Hills, MI, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.9 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 58 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.4 miles or 2h 22m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Conway, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Farmington Hills, 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 Farmington Hills, MI
This is one driving day of about 264.7 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Farmington Hills, 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 75 for about 145.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 259.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway
Merge onto I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
22.3 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint
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 148A; 147; 147B
Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spe...
8
22.5 mi into trip|~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 148B
Toward US 23 North: Flint
6
248.4 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Take the exit toward M 68: Rogers City, Petoskey, Indian River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 310
Toward M 68: Rogers City, Petoskey, Indian Rive...
6
259.5 mi into trip|~4h 35m in|US 31 / Burr Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 31 / Burr Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.09 one way
$78.18 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.15
$86.31
premium
$4.72
$49.15
$98.29
diesel
$4.80
$49.98
$99.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.4
0
$27.79
$12.71
Efficient EV
66.2
0
$23.16
$10.59
EV Truck/SUV
105.9
1
$37.06
$16.94
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Farmington Hills, MI
Late night
in Farmington Hills on Sunday
Local time
5:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 9 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 10:41PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 8:00PM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Destination
Conway, MI
Late night
in Conway on Sunday
Local time
5:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Patchy Smoke
SW 10 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 10:41PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 8:00PM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
82°F
West Branch, MI
132 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
4 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 44m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 93% of this 264.7-mile trip. Expect to spend most of your time cruising on I-75, which features a stretch of 145.9 miles without interruption. The transition to non-highway roads will occur later in the drive, around the final 18.5 miles. Given the high percentage of highway driving, be prepared for a steady pace with frequent exits in some sections.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.9 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 264.7 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 2.5 miles (I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,287 ft587 ft
Total Climb
913 ft
Total Descent
1,154 ft
Highest Point
1,287 ft
~208 mi in
Elevation Range
700 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Farmington Hills, MI and Conway, MI, road signs point toward Flint, M 68: Rogers City, Petoskey and Indian River.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 264.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.9 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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 Conway, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Conway, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
