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Trip from Grand Rapids, MI to Bath, 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 19m

Distance

71.3 mi

115 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 14m ★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States

Grand Rapids, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Bath, MI, MI

Bath, MI

ahmad shalbaf

Trip Overview

This 71.3-mile drive from Grand Rapids, MI, to Bath, MI, is a straightforward trip that takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes. Designed for a single day, this route is primarily highway-focused, with 93% of the journey on major interstates. Expect a fuel cost of around $11 for this relatively short distance. The drive stays within the Midwest region, making it a convenient option for those looking for a quick connection between two points in Michigan. Given its short duration, it’s perfectly suited for a day trip without the need for an overnight stay.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 51.1 mi 54m
I 69 11.2 mi 12m
Gerald R Ford Freeway 3.9 mi 4m
Webster Road 1.6 mi 3m
Division Avenue North 0.4 mi 1m
Division Avenue Northeast 0.1 mi <1m
Michigan Street Northeast <0.1 mi <1m
Fulton Street West <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 51.1 mi, about 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Fulton Street West

57 ft · 9 sec · Fulton Street West
2

Turn left onto Division Avenue North

0.4 mi · 1 min · Division Avenue North
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on Division Avenue Northeast

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Division Avenue Northeast
4

Turn left onto Michigan Street Northeast

232 ft · 10 sec · Michigan Street Northeast
5

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Toward I 196 East: Lansing
6

Merge onto I 196

3.9 mi · 4 min · Gerald R Ford Freeway
7

Merge onto I 96

51 mi · 54 min · I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Take the exit

2.5 mi · 2 min
Exit 89 Toward I 69 East: Flint
9

Merge onto I 69

11 mi · 12 min · I 69
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 51 sec
Toward Bath Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn right onto Webster Road

1.6 mi · 3 min · Webster Road
Use the right lane.
12

Arrive at destination

Webster Road

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Portland, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Portland, MI

36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ionia, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.7 miles from 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 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 69.7 — 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 | Division Avenue North

Turn left onto Division Avenue North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Michigan Street Northeast

Turn left onto Michigan Street Northeast

Navigation decision point

5
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward I 196 East: Lansing

Navigation decision point

Toward I 196 East: Lansing
6
69.4 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in

Take the exit toward Bath

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Bath
6
69.7 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | Webster Road

Turn right onto Webster Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.15 one way

$22.29 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.24 $24.48
premium $4.89 $13.72 $27.44
diesel $5.61 $15.74 $31.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.4 0 $7.49 $3.42
Efficient EV 17.8 0 $6.24 $2.85
EV Truck/SUV 28.5 0 $9.98 $4.56

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Grand Rapids, MI

Late night in Grand Rapids on Sunday

Local time

1:58 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 8 mph 95% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 7:33PM EDT until April 21 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 7:33PM EDT until April 18 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Destination

Bath, MI

Late night in Bath on Sunday

Local time

1:58 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

43°F

Portland, MI

36 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

3 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 19m 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?

You'll find this drive to be predominantly highway-focused, with a substantial 93% of the 71.3 miles covered on interstates like I-96 and I-69. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 51.1 miles along I-96. This means you'll experience a consistent pace for much of the journey. The profile suggests a smooth, albeit highway-centric, experience, ideal for covering ground efficiently. The Gerald R. Ford Freeway also plays a role in connecting you to the interstate system.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.1 mi on I 96.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and I 69. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Division Avenue North.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (Division Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (Michigan Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 71.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 51.1 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 (Division Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (Michigan Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bath, 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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