Origin
Ionia, MI
Late night in Ionia on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ionia, 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
51m
Distance
38.6 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ionia, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 38.6-mile drive from Ionia, MI to Lansing, MI takes about 51 minutes, making it an ideal one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate I-96, with portions on South State Road and West Grand River Avenue. With a highway share of 58%, expect a mix of faster travel and local road driving. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $6, which is quite budget-friendly. This route is a convenient option for anyone looking to travel between these two Midwest locations without a significant time commitment or expense.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 22.2 mi | 23m |
| South State Road | 6.6 mi | 10m |
| West Grand River Avenue | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| North Dexter Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Allegan Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| I 96 BL | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 22.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ionia, MI and Lansing, MI.
1
Start on M 66
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dexter Street
2
Continue on M 66
6.6 mi
·
10 min
·
South State Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 96 East: Lansing
4
Merge onto I 96
22 mi
·
23 min
·
I 96
5
Take the exit onto I 96 BL
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 96 BL
Exit 90
Toward BL I 96: Grand River Ave
6
Turn left onto I 96 BL
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
West Grand River Avenue
7
Turn right onto North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
8
Continue on North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
9
Continue on North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
10
Turn left onto CL
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Allegan Street
11
Turn right onto Townsend Street
22 ft
·
1 sec
·
Townsend Street
12
Arrive at destination
Townsend Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Ionia, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 7.6 and 38.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
7.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the ramp toward I 96 East: Lansing
Navigation decision point
Toward I 96 East: Lansing
3
7.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 96
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
30 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 96 BL
Take the exit onto I 96 BL toward BL I 96: Grand River Ave
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 90
Toward BL I 96: Grand River Ave
4
38.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
CL / West Allegan Street
Turn left onto CL / West Allegan Street
Navigation decision point
4
38.6 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
Townsend Street
Turn right onto Townsend Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.03 one way
$12.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.63 | $13.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.43 | $14.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.52 | $17.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 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 | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.38 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.40 | $2.47 |
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
Lansing, MI
Late night in Lansing on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph
79% chance
Live forecast
43°F
Portland, MI
19 mi in
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
24 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
51m 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?
The character of this drive is best described as a mixed bag, with 58% of it being highway driving. You'll experience stretches of faster travel, including a continuous segment of 22.2 miles on I-96. As you transition between I-96 and local roads like South State Road and West Grand River Avenue, the pace will naturally slow. This blend means you'll get a taste of efficient highway cruising alongside a more grounded, local road experience as you approach your destination.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.2 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 7.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ionia, MI to Lansing, MI is easy. At 51m with 58% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 30 miles (I 96 BL): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 38.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.2 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 7.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 30 miles (I 96 BL): 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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