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Trip from Howell, MI to Ann Arbor, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

36m

Distance

29.8 mi

48 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 34m ★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m

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

city and county seat of Livingston County, Michigan, United States of America

Howell, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Ann Arbor, MI, MI

Ann Arbor, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 29.8-mile drive from Howell to Ann Arbor, Michigan, is best tackled in about 36 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. With 89% of the journey on highways, you'll primarily be on US 23 and I-96, offering a quick transit between these Midwest locales. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $5, reflecting the short distance. Given its brevity, there's no need to split this journey, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. The overall feel is that of a practical, efficient connection between two points in Michigan.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 23 14.1 mi 15m
I 96 9.9 mi 10m
US 23 BUS 2.4 mi 3m
North Michigan Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Pinckney Road 0.6 mi 1m
North State Street 0.6 mi 1m
Depot Street 0.4 mi 1m
South State Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: US 23 — 14.1 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Howell, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.

1

Start on North Michigan Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Michigan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Continue on Pinckney Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Pinckney Road
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
4

Merge onto I 96

9.9 mi · 10 min · I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 21 sec
Exit 148A-B Toward US 23: Ann Arbor, Flint Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 148A Toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto US 23

14 mi · 15 min · US 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit onto US 23 BUS

1.5 mi · 1 min · US 23 BUS
Exit 45 Toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto US 23 BUS

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 23 BUS
Exit 3 Toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn left onto Depot Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Depot Street
Use the left lane.
11

Turn right

119 ft · 6 sec
12

Continue on North State Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Arrive at destination

South State Street

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 27.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 96 East: Detroit

Navigation decision point

Toward I 96 East: Detroit
8
11.6 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward US 23: Ann Arbor, Flint

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 148A-B Toward US 23: Ann Arbor, Flint
8
11.9 mi into trip | ~14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 148A Toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor
7
26.4 mi into trip | ~30m in | US 23 BUS

Take the exit onto US 23 BUS toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 45 Toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor
7
27.9 mi into trip | ~32m in | US 23 BUS

Take the exit onto US 23 BUS toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 3 Toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.66 one way

$9.32 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $5.12 $10.23
premium $4.89 $5.73 $11.47
diesel $5.61 $6.58 $13.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.4 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 8.9 0 $3.13 $1.43
Efficient EV 7.5 0 $2.61 $1.19
EV Truck/SUV 11.9 0 $4.17 $1.91

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 15, 2026

Origin

Howell, MI

Late night in Howell on Sunday

Local time

2:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ann Arbor, MI

Late night in Ann Arbor on Sunday

Local time

2:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°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

19 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

36m 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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this 29.8-mile trip, with 89% of your travel time spent on major roads like US 23 and I-96. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.1 miles on US 23. This route is designed for efficiency rather than scenic exploration, characterized by consistent highway speeds and straightforward navigation. You'll experience a smooth progression with minimal deviations from the main thoroughfares as you make your way from Howell to Ann Arbor.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.1 mi on US 23.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 29.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Howell, MI and Ann Arbor, MI, road signs point toward Flint and M 14 West: Ann Arbor.

Flint

11.6 mi in | ~14m

M 14 West: Ann Arbor

26.4 mi in | ~30m | via US 23 BUS

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 29.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 14.1 miles on US 23. 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 Ann Arbor, 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 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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