Origin
Farmington Hills, MI
Morning in Farmington Hills on Sunday
Local time
8:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Farmington Hills, MI to Swartz Creek, 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 11m
Distance
61.6 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
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Farmington Hills, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Swartz Creek, MI
Frank Krasznavolgyi
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Farmington Hills to Swartz Creek, you are looking at a straightforward 61.6-mile commute across the Midwest. The drive typically takes about 1 hour and 11 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel covers the trip comfortably in a standard vehicle. Since this is an efficient, highway-focused route, you won't need to stress about complex logistics or multi-day planning. It is an ideal distance for a quick getaway or a necessary regional transit, keeping you firmly within Michigan for the duration of the drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 23 | 31.8 mi | 34m |
| I 96 | 15.3 mi | 16m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| Chevrolet-Buick Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Miller Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West 12 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Farmington Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Orchard Lake Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 23
— 31.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington Hills, MI and Swartz Creek, 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; 147B
Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 148B
Toward US 23 North: Flint
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 23
32 mi
·
34 min
·
US 23
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 69 West: Lansing
13
Merge onto I 69
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 129
Toward Miller Road
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto Miller Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Miller Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
Miller Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Farmington Hills, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 59.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
55 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
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 69: Lansing, Port Huron
7
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
7
59.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward Miller Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 129
Toward Miller Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.63 one way
$19.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.57 | $21.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.85 | $23.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.60 | $27.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.62 | $3.94 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Swartz Creek, MI
Morning in Swartz Creek on Sunday
Local time
8:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph
29% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 12 at 1:40PM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 12 at 1:14PM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
66°F
Hartland, 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
9 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 11m 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?
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 89% of this route is comprised of highway travel. You will primarily utilize the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, I-96, and US-23 to navigate between these two points. The road maintains a consistent, fast-paced rhythm, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 31.8 miles on US-23. Because the route is so heavily focused on major interstates, you should prepare for a functional, high-speed driving environment rather than a winding backroad experience. It is a no-nonsense journey designed for getting you to your destination with minimal detours or technical driving requirements.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.8 mi on US 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 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; at 55 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
985 ft
757 ft
Total Climb
188 ft
Total Descent
249 ft
Highest Point
985 ft
~30.8 mi in
Elevation Range
228 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 Farmington Hills, MI and Swartz Creek, MI, road signs point toward Flint and Port Huron.
Flint
22.3 mi in
|
~26m
Port Huron
55 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 61.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.8 miles on US 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Swartz Creek, 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 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; at 55 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Swartz Creek, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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