Grand Rapids to Laurium is 513.9 miles and takes about 10h 6m via US 131 and I-75, with a fuel budget near $80 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though it's best split over two days. This long-haul drive stays within Michigan, taking you from the Midwest's lower peninsula up into the Upper Peninsula. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways for much of the trip. Given the nearly 10-hour drive time, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended for a more relaxed experience.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
257 miles from Grand Rapids, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 131
94.8 mi
1h 36m
I 75
94.2 mi
1h 37m
US 41
86.1 mi
1h 52m
M-28
70.9 mi
1h 23m
US-2 West
62.1 mi
1h 12m
US 127
18.3 mi
18m
West Houghton Lake Road
17.9 mi
24m
M 77
17.3 mi
20m
Longest stretch:
US 131
— 94.8 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Rapids, MI and Laurium, 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
95 mi·1 hr 36 min·US 131
Use the slight left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward M 55 East: Lake City
6
Turn right onto M 55
1.5 mi·2 min·East M-55 Highway
7
Continue on M 55
4.6 mi·6 min·West Watergate Road
8
Continue on M 55
1.5 mi·2 min·West Blue Road
9
Turn left onto M 66; M 55
3.5 mi·4 min·South Morey Road
10
Continue on M 66; M 55
0.2 mi·19 sec·Lakeshore Drive
11
Continue on M 66; M 55
0.1 mi·11 sec·South Shore Drive
12
Continue on M 66; M 55
0.7 mi·1 min·Lake Shore Drive
13
Continue on M 66; M 55
0.5 mi·50 sec·Main Street
14
Turn right onto M 55
18 mi·24 min·West Houghton Lake Road
15
Continue on West Lake City Road
2.4 mi·3 min·West Lake City Road
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward US 127 North: Grayling
17
Merge onto US 127
18 mi·18 min·US 127
18
Merge onto I 75
94 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 75
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 344BToward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
20
Merge onto US 2; I 75 BL
0.7 mi·1 min·US-2 West
21
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi·3 min·US 2
22
Continue on US 2
61 mi·1 hr 11 min·US-2 West
23
Turn right onto M 77
17 mi·20 min·M 77
24
Turn sharp left onto M 28
35 mi·41 min·M-28
25
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi·28 sec·Cedar Street
26
Enter roundabout onto M 28
194 ft·11 sec·East Munising
27
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi·4 min·East Munising
28
Continue on M 28
36 mi·42 min·M-28
29
Continue on CR 551
1.8 mi·2 min·Cherry Creek Road
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn right onto CR 480
13 mi·18 min·County Road 480
31
Continue on Rail Street
0.4 mi·36 sec·Rail Street
32
Turn right onto Division Street
503 ft·10 sec·Division Street
33
Turn right onto M 28 BUS
440 ft·12 sec·West Main Street
34
Turn left onto M 28 BUS
0.5 mi·52 sec·North Teal Lake Avenue
35
Turn left onto US 41; M 28
2.7 mi·4 min·US Highway 41
36
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
83 ft·4 sec·US 41; M 28
37
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; M 28
38
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
88 ft·5 sec·US 41; M 28
39
Continue on US 41; M 28
85 mi·1 hr 51 min·US 41; M 28
40
Turn left onto US 41
0.2 mi·34 sec·Front Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Continue on US 41
510 ft·13 sec·Reservation Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
42
Turn left onto East White Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East White Street
43
At end of road, turn right onto US 41
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Lincoln Drive
44
Continue on US 41
8.4 mi·11 min·US-41
45
Continue on US 41
1.3 mi·2 min·County Road
46
Turn right onto Rockland Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·Rockland Street
47
Turn right onto Lake Linden Avenue
0.3 mi·36 sec·Lake Linden Avenue
48
Turn sharp left onto M 26
0.3 mi·41 sec·Hecla Street
49
Turn left onto M 26
85 ft·2 sec·3rd Street
50
Arrive at destination
M 26
Trip Plan
To make this drive manageable, consider breaking it into two days, with an overnight stop around the halfway point. Leaving Grand Rapids in the morning will allow you to cover a good portion of the distance before looking for lodging. You'll have 2 planned stops, so use these to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you get further into the Upper Peninsula where services might be more spread out. The total fuel cost is estimated at $80, so budget accordingly.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 257 miles from Grand Rapids, MI, or about 4h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 113 miles or 2h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 257 miles or 4h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 257 miles or 4h 39m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurium, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Grand Rapids, MI
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laurium, MI
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 113 miles from Grand Rapids, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 131 for about 94.8 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 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 513.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
5
128.9 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the ramp toward US 127 North: Grayling
Navigation decision point
Toward US 127 North: Grayling
6
241.8 mi into trip|~4h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 344B
Toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
6
513.6 mi into trip|~10h 6m in|M 26 / Hecla Street
Turn sharp left onto M 26 / Hecla Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$80.34 one way
$160.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg180 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$88.21
$176.43
premium
$4.89
$98.90
$197.79
diesel
$5.61
$113.46
$226.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$210–$320
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 179.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
154.2
1
$53.96
$24.67
Efficient EV
128.5
1
$44.97
$20.56
EV Truck/SUV
205.6
2
$71.95
$32.89
Gas CO2
180 kg
EV CO2
60 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laurium, MI
Late night
in Laurium on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Flat Rock, MI
339 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
12 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
10h 6m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Keweenaw National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The stories of people and copper in the Keweenaw Peninsula have been intertwined for more than 7,000 years. Indigenous peoples made copper into tools and trade items. Investors and immigrants arrived...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 513.9
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coa...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
$25
near mile 336.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a significant amount of highway driving, with 72% of the trip on major roads like US 131 and I-75. You'll encounter your longest stretch of uninterrupted driving on US 131, covering 94.8 miles. Expect a shift from more populated areas with frequent exits to more open cruising as you head north. The transition to surface roads will become more noticeable as you approach your destination in the Upper Peninsula.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
50 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.8 mi on US 131.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 131 and I 75. You will hit about 29 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 513.9 miles you will encounter 29 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 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 131): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Grand Rapids, MI and Laurium, MI, road signs point toward M 55 East: Lake City and Escanaba.
M 55 East: Lake City
95.5 mi in|~1h 37m
Escanaba
241.8 mi in|~4h 21m
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
10h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.8 miles on US 131. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 257 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Laurium, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 131): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.1 hours each way, a round trip means 20.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laurium, MI before the return drive.
