Origin
Kent City, MI
Morning in Kent City on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kent City, MI to Grand Rapids, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
20 mi
32 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kent City, MI
Emre
Grand Rapids, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from the rural landscape of Kent City to the urban center of Grand Rapids, this 20.5-mile journey is an ideal choice. Expect to spend about 29 minutes behind the wheel as you navigate through the heart of Michigan. Because the trip is so short, it works perfectly as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. You can easily budget around $3 for fuel, making this an incredibly economical excursion. Whether you are commuting or heading into the city for an afternoon, this straightforward route offers a seamless connection between these two Midwest locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| M-37 | 8.7 mi | 11m |
| Alpine Avenue Northwest | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| US 131 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| South Ball Creek Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| M 37 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Ottawa Avenue Northwest | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Phelps Avenue Northwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
M-37
— 8.7 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kent City, MI and Grand Rapids, MI.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto South Ball Creek Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ball Creek Road
3
Turn right onto Phelps Avenue Northwest
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Phelps Avenue Northwest
4
Turn left onto M 37
8.7 mi
·
11 min
·
M-37
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on M 37
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Alpine Avenue Northwest
6
Take the exit onto M 37
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
M 37
Toward I 96 East, M 37: Lansing
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 31A
Toward US 131 South: Kalamazoo
8
Merge onto US 131
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 131
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 86A
Toward I 196 East: Lansing
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 196
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Gerald R Ford Freeway
11
Take the exit
450 ft
·
11 sec
Exit 77C
Toward Ottawa Avenue, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
416 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Ottawa Avenue Northwest
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ottawa Avenue Northwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Monroe Center Street Northwest
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Monroe Center Street Northwest
15
Turn right onto Division Avenue North
184 ft
·
10 sec
·
Division Avenue North
16
Turn right onto Fulton Street West
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
Fulton Street West
17
Arrive at destination
Fulton Street West
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 19.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
M 37 / M-37
Turn left onto M 37 / M-37
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
15.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
M 37
Take the exit onto M 37 toward I 96 East, M 37: Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 96 East, M 37: Lansing
7
18.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 196 East: Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 86A
Toward I 196 East: Lansing
9
19.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward Ottawa Avenue, Downtown
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 77C
Toward Ottawa Avenue, Downtown
8
19.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.13 one way
$6.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.43 | $6.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.85 | $7.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.42 | $8.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Grand Rapids, MI
Morning in Grand Rapids on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Clear
WSW 6 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 4:35AM EDT until April 21 at 12:00PM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac MI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 1:45AM EDT until April 20 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
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
10 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
29m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will not encounter any highway stretches on this trip, as the entire route consists of local roads. You will primarily navigate via South Ball Creek Road, Phelps Avenue Northwest, and M-37 as you head south. Because the route is composed of local roads, you should remain alert for changing speed limits and intersections. The road’s personality is defined by its winding local nature, providing a constant engagement that you won't find on a straight, high-speed highway.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.7 mi on M-37.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near M 37 / M-37.
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 13 decision points packed into just 20 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (M 37 / M-37): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.2 miles (M 37): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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 Kent City, MI to Grand Rapids, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 37: Lansing along the way.
M 37: Lansing
15.2 mi in
|
~22m
|
via M 37
About the Cities
Arriving in Grand Rapids, MI
Full guide →Not to be confused with Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Grand Rapids is in West Michigan, in the United States. Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan with a population of just under 200,000 in the city limits (2018), and nearly 570,000 in the surrounding county (2010). The federal West Michigan metropolitan area, which includes Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Holland (and some intervening farmland), has 1.4 million people (2010).
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 20 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.7 miles on M-37. 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 Grand Rapids, 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 1.2 miles (M 37 / M-37): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.2 miles (M 37): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Grand Rapids, 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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