Grand Rapids, MI to Clare County, MI is 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 24m via US 131 and US 10, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive primarily through the Midwest region of Michigan. Most of the journey is on well-maintained highways, making it an efficient trip. If you're looking for a quick and easy transition between these two Michigan locations, this route offers a practical solution without much fuss. It's designed for speed and getting you to your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.8 miles from Grand Rapids, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 131
67.3 mi
1h 8m
US 10
19.6 mi
27m
Temple Drive
10.7 mi
15m
30th Avenue
10 mi
14m
16 Mile Road
3 mi
4m
North Old State Avenue
2.3 mi
5m
West Larch Road
0.8 mi
3m
State Highway 61
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 131
— 67.3 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Rapids, MI and Clare County, MI.
1
Start on Fulton Street West
0.3 mi·58 sec·Fulton Street West
2
Turn left onto Market Avenue Southwest
0.2 mi·33 sec·Market Avenue Southwest
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 131 North: CadillacUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 131
67 mi·1 hr 8 min·US 131
Use the slight left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 10
6
Turn right onto US 10
20 mi·27 min·US 10
7
Turn left onto M 66
10.0 mi·14 min·30th Avenue
8
Turn right onto M 61
3.0 mi·4 min·16 Mile Road
9
Continue on M 61
11 mi·15 min·Temple Drive
10
Turn straight onto M 61
0.4 mi·40 sec·State Highway 61
11
Turn right onto North Old State Avenue
2.3 mi·5 min·North Old State Avenue
12
Turn left onto West Larch Road
0.8 mi·3 min·West Larch Road
13
Turn right
0.3 mi·1 min
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2h 24m duration and 115.6-mile distance, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can comfortably leave in the morning and arrive by midday, or depart in the afternoon and still have plenty of daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, keeping your tank topped up won't be a major concern. Plan for one convenient stop if needed, perhaps around the midpoint, to stretch your legs. Pay attention to the transition from US 131 to US 10, as this is where you'll make your primary highway change.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.8 miles from Grand Rapids, MI, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.3 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 25 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.8 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clare County, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids, MI
This is one driving day of about 115.6 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Grand Rapids, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 131 for about 67.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 57.8 miles from Grand Rapids, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before US 131 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.3 miles.
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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 68.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|Market Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto Market Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
7
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 131 North: Cadillac
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 131 North: Cadillac
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 131
Merge onto US 131
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
4
68 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 10
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 10
4
68.5 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|US 10
Turn right onto US 10
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.07 one way
$36.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.84
$39.69
premium
$4.89
$22.25
$44.49
diesel
$5.61
$25.52
$51.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.7
0
$12.14
$5.55
Efficient EV
28.9
0
$10.11
$4.62
EV Truck/SUV
46.2
0
$16.18
$7.40
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Grand Rapids, MI
Late night
in Grand Rapids on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 9 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:21PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued April 16 at 1:53PM EDT until April 17 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Destination
Clare County, MI
Late night
in Clare County on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 24m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily into its highway focus, with 76% of the journey spent on major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 67.3 miles on US 131, offering a consistent, high-speed driving experience for a good portion of the trip. Expect a profile that keeps you moving with minimal interruptions. As you transition to US 10, the character remains largely highway-oriented, ensuring a smooth and predictable drive from start to finish. The drive is built for covering ground effectively.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.3 mi on US 131.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 131 and US 10. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Market Avenue Southwest.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Grand Rapids, MI to Clare County, MI is easy. At 2h 24m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Market Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 131): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not to be confused with Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Grand Rapids is in West Michigan, in the United States. Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan with a population of just under 200,000 in the city limits (2018), and nearly 570,000 in the surrounding county (2010). The federal West Michigan metropolitan area, which includes Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Holland (and some intervening farmland), has 1.4 million people (2010).
The longest stretch is about 67.3 miles on US 131. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Market Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 131): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clare County, MI before heading back.
