Ithaca, MI to Ann Arbor, MI is 104.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 57 minutes via US 127 BUS and I 96, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan's Midwest region, offering a straightforward journey between two points. You'll find this route is almost entirely highway driving, making it a quick and efficient option. Consider this drive for a convenient day trip or as a connecting leg to a larger adventure in the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.3 miles from Ithaca, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 127 BUS
44.4 mi
47m
I 96
40 mi
42m
US 23
14.1 mi
15m
US 23 BUS
2.4 mi
3m
East Center Street
1.2 mi
2m
I 496
0.9 mi
1m
North State Street
0.6 mi
1m
Depot Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 127 BUS
— 44.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ithaca, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.
1
Start on East Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·East Center Street
2
Take the ramp onto US 127 BUS
44 mi·47 min·US 127 BUS
Toward US 127 SOUTH: Lansing
3
Take the exit onto I 496
0.9 mi·1 min·I 496
Exit 73AToward I 96 East: DetroitUse the slight left lane.
4
Merge onto I 96
40 mi·42 min·I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·21 sec
Exit 148A-BToward US 23: Ann Arbor, FlintUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 148AToward US 23 South: Ann ArborUse 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 45Toward M 14 West: Ann ArborUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS
0.9 mi·1 min·US 23 BUS
Exit 3Toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann ArborUse 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
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 2 hours, this route offers great flexibility for departure times. You could easily leave mid-morning and still arrive with ample time to spare. Since it's a highway-heavy route, plan for one fuel stop if needed, but you won't need to worry about extensive breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Ann Arbor, as services can become more spread out in certain sections of the approach.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.3 miles from Ithaca, MI, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.3 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ann Arbor, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ithaca, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ithaca, MI
This is one driving day of about 104.7 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Ithaca, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 127 BUS for about 44.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 45.6 and 102.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
45.6 mi into trip|~50m in|I 496
Take the exit onto I 496 toward I 96 East: Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 73A
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
8
86.5 mi into trip|~1h 34m 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
86.8 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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
101.3 mi into trip|~1h 51m 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
102.8 mi into trip|~1h 52m 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
$16.37 one way
$32.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.97
$35.94
premium
$4.89
$20.15
$40.30
diesel
$5.61
$23.12
$46.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.4
0
$10.99
$5.03
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.16
$4.19
EV Truck/SUV
41.9
0
$14.66
$6.70
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Ithaca, MI
Morning
in Ithaca on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ann Arbor, MI
Morning
in Ann Arbor on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
21 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
1h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll experience primarily high-speed travel, making it feel like a direct connection between destinations. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.4 miles on US 127 BUS. Expect consistent driving conditions for most of the journey, allowing for a predictable pace behind the wheel.
97% 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: 44.4 mi on US 127 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 127 BUS and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45.6 miles in near I 496.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 104.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 45.6 miles (I 496): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.8 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.
On the drive from Ithaca, MI to Ann Arbor, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Flint along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 104.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.4 miles on US 127 BUS. 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 45.6 miles (I 496): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.8 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.
