Origin
Howell, MI
Late night in Howell on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Howell, MI to Livonia, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
40.9 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Howell, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Livonia, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Howell to Livonia, you are looking at a straightforward 40.8-mile trip through the Michigan Midwest. The drive typically takes about 40 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day journey that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it is a very cost-effective way to move between these two communities. Since the entire route stays within the state of Michigan, you will find it to be a simple, predictable commute. Whether you are traveling for business or visiting friends, this trip provides a reliable connection without the need for extensive travel planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 26.1 mi | 27m |
| I 275 | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| Jeffries Freeway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Merriman Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Michigan Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Pinckney Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Schoolcraft Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 26.1 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Howell, MI and Livonia, 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
26 mi
·
27 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 163
Toward I 96, I 275, M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
7
Continue on I 275; I 96
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 275; I 96
8
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 96
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Jeffries Freeway
Toward I 96 East: Livonia, Detroit
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 175
Toward Merriman Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto Schoolcraft Road
477 ft
·
14 sec
·
Schoolcraft Road
12
Turn right onto Merriman Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Merriman Road
13
Turn right
98 ft
·
9 sec
14
Turn right
31 ft
·
2 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Howell, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 39.4 — 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
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 96
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
27.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward I 96, I 275, M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 163
Toward I 96, I 275, M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo
6
34.8 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward I 96 East: Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
7
39.4 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward Merriman Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 175
Toward Merriman Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.39 one way
$12.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.02 | $14.04 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.87 | $15.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.03 | $18.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.58 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.73 | $2.62 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Livonia, MI
Late night in Livonia on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
48m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than lulling you into a highway trance. You will navigate via Pinckney Road and I-96 East, though the route maintains a 0% highway share according to our data, emphasizing the importance of local road navigation. The experience is defined by these technical turns rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of open interstate. Because the route is relatively short, you will find the road conditions shift quickly as you transition from the Howell area toward Livonia. Stay alert at the wheel, as the winding nature of the local roads requires more focus than a standard freeway cruise.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.1 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and I 275. 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
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 11 decision points packed into just 40.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Livonia, MI, road signs point toward M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo and Detroit.
M 5 North: Detroit
27.7 mi in
|
~31m
Toledo
27.7 mi in
|
~31m
Detroit
36.1 mi in
|
~41m
|
via I 96
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 40.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.1 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 Livonia, 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 1.7 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 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 Livonia, 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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