Origin
Highland Park, MI
Morning in Highland Park on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland Park, MI to Lansing, 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 26m
Distance
68.5 mi
110 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland Park, MI
Michał Robak
Trip Overview
This straightforward 68.5-mile drive from Highland Park, MI to Lansing, MI takes about 1 hour and 26 minutes and is easily manageable as a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, this route focuses primarily on interstate travel, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently. The majority of your journey, 65% of it, will be on highways, providing a consistent driving experience. Since there are no designated stops and the longest stretch is a substantial 35.5 miles on I-69, you'll want to plan any necessary breaks beforehand. This trip stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar landscape as you travel between these two Michigan cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 69 | 35.5 mi | 38m |
| West Michigan Avenue | 6.1 mi | 10m |
| M 89 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| East Michigan Avenue | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| I 496 | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| I 94 | 3.6 mi | 3m |
| West Hamblin Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North 37th Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 35.5 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland Park, MI and Lansing, MI.
1
Start on Fraulin Drive
353 ft
·
15 sec
·
Fraulin Drive
2
Continue on East C Avenue
520 ft
·
26 sec
·
East C Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Gull Lake Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Gull Lake Drive
4
Continue on North 36th Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
North 36th Street
5
Continue on East CD Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East CD Avenue
6
Turn right onto North 37th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 37th Street
7
Turn left onto East D Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East D Avenue
8
Turn right onto North 37th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North 37th Street
9
Turn left onto M 89
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
M 89
10
Continue on M 89
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
M-89
11
Continue on M 89
6.1 mi
·
10 min
·
West Michigan Avenue
12
Turn right onto M 89
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Washington Avenue
13
Turn left onto West Hamblin Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hamblin Avenue
14
Continue on I 94 BL
352 ft
·
8 sec
·
Hamblin Street
15
Turn right onto I 94 BL
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Michigan Avenue
16
Turn right onto I 94 BL
55 ft
·
4 sec
·
I 94 BL
17
Continue on I 94 BL; M 96
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
East Columbia Avenue
18
Merge onto I 94 BL; M 96
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
East Michigan Avenue
19
Turn sharp left onto I 94 BL; M 311
349 ft
·
6 sec
·
11 Mile Road
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
21
Merge onto I 94
3.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 94
22
Take the exit onto I 94 BL
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 94 BL
Toward I 69: Fort Wayne, Lansing
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 69 North: Lansing
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 69 North
26
Merge onto I 69
35 mi
·
38 min
·
I 69
27
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 95
Toward I 496: Downtown Lansing
28
Continue on I 496
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
I 496
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 6
Toward Downtown
30
Turn straight onto West Malcolm X Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Malcolm X Street
31
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Walnut Street
32
Turn right onto West Allegan Street
412 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Allegan Street
33
Turn right onto Townsend Street
22 ft
·
1 sec
·
Townsend Street
34
Arrive at destination
Townsend Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.2 miles from Highland Park, 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 25.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
North 37th Street
Turn right onto North 37th Street
Navigation decision point
5
20.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 94 BL; M 311 / 11 Mile Road
Turn sharp left onto I 94 BL; M 311 / 11 Mile Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
20.9 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East: Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
5
24.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 94 BL
Take the exit onto I 94 BL toward I 69: Fort Wayne, Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 69: Fort Wayne, Lansing
5
25.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69 North: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 69 North: Lansing
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.71 one way
$21.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.76 | $23.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.18 | $26.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.12 | $30.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.19 | $3.29 |
| Efficient EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.59 | $4.38 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Lansing, MI
Morning in Lansing on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 26m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 68.5-mile route, with 65% of the drive taking place on faster roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-69, including a continuous stretch of 35.5 miles, which means you'll encounter a more uniform driving environment for much of the journey. While West Michigan Avenue and M-89 offer some variation, the overall character is one of efficient travel rather than scenic exploration. This route is designed for getting you to your destination smoothly, with minimal detours or complex road changes.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.5 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and West Michigan Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near North 37th Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.5 miles you will encounter 22 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 2.3 miles (North 37th Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.9 miles (I 94 BL; M 311 / 11 Mile Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 68.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.5 miles on I 69. 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 Lansing, 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 2.3 miles (North 37th Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.9 miles (I 94 BL; M 311 / 11 Mile Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lansing, 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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