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Trip from Grand Rapids, MI to Ravenna, MI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

35m

Distance

27.2 mi

44 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 32m ★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m

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 Ravenna, MI, MI

Ravenna, MI

Tatjana

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick escape from Grand Rapids, the 27.2-mile journey to Ravenna is an ideal candidate for a simple day trip. Expect to spend about 35 minutes behind the wheel as you transition from the city into the heart of the Midwest. With no mandatory stops required, this route is perfect for those who prefer an efficient, straightforward commute. Budget roughly $4 for fuel to cover the distance, making this an incredibly cost-effective excursion. Since the entire trip takes less than an hour, you certainly won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. It is a practical, no-fuss drive that allows you to reach your destination quickly without any unnecessary logistical headaches.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 11.6 mi 12m
South Ravenna Road 4.6 mi 6m
South 48th Avenue 4.5 mi 6m
US 131 3.2 mi 3m
Wilson Road 1 mi 1m
Fulton Street West 0.3 mi <1m
William Street 0.2 mi <1m
Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 11.6 mi, about 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grand Rapids, MI and Ravenna, 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: Cadillac Use the right lane.
4

Merge onto US 131

3.2 mi · 3 min · US 131
Use the slight left lane.
5

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 34 sec
Exit 89 Toward I 96, M 37: Muskegon, Lansing Use the slight left lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 96: Muskegon
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 14 sec
8

Merge onto I 96

12 mi · 12 min · I 96
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 19 Toward Lamont, Coopersville Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn right onto South 48th Avenue

4.5 mi · 6 min · South 48th Avenue
11

Turn left onto Wilson Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Wilson Road
12

Turn right onto B-35

4.6 mi · 6 min · South Ravenna Road
13

Continue on B-35; B-72

0.2 mi · 31 sec · William Street
14

Continue on B-35; B-72

0.2 mi · 46 sec · Main Street
15

Turn left

103 ft · 7 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 16.4 — 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.
8
3.9 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the exit toward I 96, M 37: Muskegon, Lansing

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 89 Toward I 96, M 37: Muskegon, Lansing
5
4.3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 96: Muskegon

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 96: Muskegon
8
16.4 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward Lamont, Coopersville

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 19 Toward Lamont, Coopersville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.25 one way

$8.50 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $4.67 $9.34
premium $4.89 $5.23 $10.47
diesel $5.61 $6.01 $12.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.2 0 $2.86 $1.31
Efficient EV 6.8 0 $2.38 $1.09
EV Truck/SUV 10.9 0 $3.81 $1.74

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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 12, 2026

Origin

Grand Rapids, MI

Late night in Grand Rapids on Tuesday

Local time

5:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SSW 12 to 16 mph 61% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:34AM EDT until April 12 at 12:45PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 12 at 2:22AM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Destination

Ravenna, MI

Late night in Ravenna on Tuesday

Local time

5:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 14 to 20 mph 75% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:34AM EDT until April 12 at 12:45PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 12 at 2:22AM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

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

5 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

35m 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?

This trip features a mixed drive profile that keeps things interesting by shifting between high-speed infrastructure and quieter local roads. You will spend about 54% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 11.6 miles on I-96. As you navigate away from the interstate, the journey transitions onto South Ravenna Road and South 48th Avenue, offering a change of pace from the typical highway grind. The contrast between the initial fast-paced interstate segment and the more localized roads provides a balanced experience. You can expect a consistent flow, as the route successfully blends the efficiency of major thoroughfares with the accessible nature of smaller regional roads.

54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.6 mi on I 96.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 27.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.

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 3.9 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

794 ft 617 ft

Total Climb

277 ft

Total Descent

245 ft

Highest Point

794 ft

~5.8 mi in

Elevation Range

177 ft

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 Ravenna, MI, road signs point toward M 37: Muskegon, Lansing, Lamont and Coopersville.

M 37: Muskegon

3.9 mi in | ~5m

Lansing

3.9 mi in | ~5m

Lamont

16.4 mi in | ~19m

Coopersville

16.4 mi in | ~19m

About the Cities

Starting in Grand Rapids, MI

Full guide →

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).

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 27.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 11.6 miles on I 96. 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 Ravenna, 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 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 131): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 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 Ravenna, 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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