Franklin, MI to Troy, MI is 206.1 miles and takes about 4h 19m via I 96, M-37, and North Stone Road, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of the drive. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is well-suited for a quick trip between these two points without requiring an overnight stay.
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
103.1 miles from Franklin, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
133 mi
2h 22m
M-37
12.8 mi
17m
North Stone Road
7.7 mi
10m
North Comstock Avenue
7.1 mi
17m
Warner Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
Alpine Avenue Northwest
5.1 mi
7m
Bailey Road
4.9 mi
6m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
4.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 133 mi, about 2h 22m
Traffic on I-96
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 70 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,309 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,952
Quietest
2 AM
~152 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Franklin, MI and Troy, MI.
1
Start on Scenic Drive
64 ft·4 sec·Scenic Drive
2
Turn right onto Franklin Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Franklin Road
3
Turn right onto West 13 Mile Road
2.7 mi·4 min·West 13 Mile Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto Orchard Lake Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Orchard Lake Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
6
Merge onto I 696
4.5 mi·4 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7
Merge onto I 96
18 mi·19 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
55 mi·58 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
54 mi·57 min·I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand RapidsUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 96; M 37
6.6 mi·7 min·I 96; M 37
Toward I 96 West, M 37 North: MuskegonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto M 37
0.4 mi·51 sec·M 37
Exit 30BToward M 37 North: NewaygoUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto M 37
5.1 mi·7 min·Alpine Avenue Northwest
13
Turn straight onto M 37
13 mi·17 min·M-37
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto M 37
12 ft·0 sec·Newaygo Road
15
Continue on M 37
3.2 mi·4 min·Newaygo Road
16
Turn left onto Bailey Road
4.9 mi·6 min·Bailey Road
17
Turn right onto B-35
0.9 mi·1 min·Squires Road
18
Continue on B-35
2.0 mi·2 min·Alger Avenue
19
Turn left onto B-35
0.5 mi·37 sec·West 128th Street
20
Turn straight onto B-35
1.2 mi·1 min·Luce Avenue
21
Continue on B-35
0.9 mi·1 min·West 118th Street
22
Turn straight onto B-35
5.9 mi·8 min·Warner Avenue
23
At end of road, turn left onto M 82
2.3 mi·3 min·South Warner Avenue
24
Continue on M 82
0.6 mi·1 min·South Stewart Avenue
25
Turn left onto M 82
1.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
26
Turn right onto North Stone Road
7.7 mi·10 min·North Stone Road
27
Continue on Jefferson Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street
28
Turn right onto North Green Avenue
2.2 mi·3 min·North Green Avenue
29
Turn left onto 4 Mile Road
1.0 mi·2 min·4 Mile Road
30
Turn right onto North Comstock Avenue
7.1 mi·17 min·North Comstock Avenue
31
Turn left onto West 11 Mile Road
0.9 mi·2 min·West 11 Mile Road
32
Continue on North Dickinson Avenue
2.1 mi·5 min·North Dickinson Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
North Dickinson Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, consider an early morning departure to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially if you're hitting I 96 during peak hours. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to adjust your schedule. The longest stretch without a break is 133 miles on I 96, so plan accordingly for fuel or a quick rest stop before or after that segment. Given the relatively short duration and the $33 fuel cost, this trip is easily manageable in a single day with minimal planning.
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 103.1 miles from Franklin, MI, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.1 miles or 1h 54m 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 14m
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 Franklin, 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 Franklin, MI
This is one driving day of about 206.1 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Franklin, 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 133 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 142.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in|Orchard Lake Road
Turn left onto Orchard Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
27.3 mi into trip|~33m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
82.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
8
135.8 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|I 96; M 37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 96; M 37 toward I 96 West, M 37 North: Muskegon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 96 West, M 37 North: Muskegon
7
142.3 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|M 37
Take the exit onto M 37 toward M 37 North: Newaygo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 30B
Toward M 37 North: Newaygo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.38 one way
$68.76 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$37.37
$74.73
premium
$5.26
$42.67
$85.34
diesel
$6.18
$50.14
$100.27
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: 72.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.8
0
$21.64
$9.89
Efficient EV
51.5
0
$18.03
$8.24
EV Truck/SUV
82.4
1
$28.85
$13.19
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Franklin, MI
Morning
in Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
8:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Troy, MI
Morning
in Troy on Tuesday
Local time
8:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
67°F
Greenville, MI
103 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
2 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 19m 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?
This route is mostly highway, with 67% of the travel on freeways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 133 miles on I 96 before transitioning to surface roads. The latter part of your drive will involve navigating M-37 and North Stone Road, likely offering a different pace with more local traffic and intersections.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and M-37. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near Orchard Lake Road.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 206.1 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 3.3 miles (Orchard Lake Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.1 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
980 ft723 ft
Total Climb
425 ft
Total Descent
376 ft
Highest Point
980 ft
~29.4 mi in
Elevation Range
257 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Franklin, MI and Troy, MI, road signs point toward M 37 North: Muskegon and M 37 North: Newaygo.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 206.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 133 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (Orchard Lake Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.1 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Troy, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
