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Trip from Kent City, 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

3h 1m

Distance

161.2 mi

259 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 50m ★
6 AM
3h 2m
8 AM
3h 24m
10 AM
3h 10m
12 PM
3h 7m
3 PM
3h 11m
5 PM
3h 23m
8 PM
2h 55m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Kent City, MI, MI

Kent City, MI

Emre

city in Wayne County, Michigan, United States

Livonia, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Kent City, MI to Livonia, MI is 161.2 miles and takes about 3 hours 1 minute via I 96 and I 275, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the Midwest, staying within Michigan for its entirety. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. Expect a relatively efficient commute, primarily on interstates, with minimal detours needed to reach your destination.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

80.6 miles from Kent City, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 132.6 mi 2h 22m
M-37 8.7 mi 11m
I 275 6.1 mi 6m
Alpine Avenue Northwest 5.2 mi 7m
Jeffries Freeway 3.3 mi 3m
Merriman Road 1 mi 1m
South Ball Creek Road 0.6 mi 1m
Phelps Avenue Northwest 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 132.6 mi, about 2h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kent City, MI and Livonia, 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

5.2 mi · 7 min · Alpine Avenue Northwest
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 30 sec
Use the left lane.
7

Merge onto I 96; M 37

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 96; M 37
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96

67 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 96
Toward I 96 East: Detroit Use the straight / right lanes.
9

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.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 29 sec
11

Continue on I 275; I 96

6.1 mi · 6 min · I 275; I 96
12

Take the exit

1.3 mi · 2 min
Toward I 96 East: Detroit Use the slight left lane.
13

Merge onto I 96

3.3 mi · 3 min · Jeffries Freeway
Toward I 96 East: Livonia, Detroit
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 175 Toward Merriman Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn straight onto Schoolcraft Road

477 ft · 14 sec · Schoolcraft Road
16

Turn right onto Merriman Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Merriman Road
17

Turn right

98 ft · 9 sec
18

Turn right

31 ft · 2 sec
19

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour duration, this is easily a same-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning, perhaps around 9 AM, will allow you to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic in both your origin and destination regions. The $25 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to fill up before leaving Kent City to ensure you have a full tank for the 161.2-mile journey. Plan for one brief stop along the way, likely on I 96, to stretch your legs.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.6 miles from Kent City, MI, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.6 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 35 miles or 43m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 80.6 miles or 1h 32m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livonia, MI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Kent City, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Kent City, MI

This is one driving day of about 161.2 miles and 3h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Kent City, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 132.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Grand Ledge, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Grand Ledge, MI

81 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

Grand Rapids, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grand Ledge, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.6 miles from Kent City, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 96 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 132.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

That Early Bird

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 23

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16162588350

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Haraz Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Livonia, Michigan

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 161.2

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+17342366069

Visit website

Joe's Coffee & Tea Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Novi, Michigan

1.3 mi

BakeCurry Café

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Novi, Michigan

1.4 mi

That Early Bird

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 23

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16162588350

Visit website

Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop & Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 161.2

Livonia, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12489578019

Visit website

Haraz Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 161.2

Livonia, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+17342366069

Visit website

Joe's Coffee & Tea Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 149.7

Novi, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+12485333355

Visit website

BakeCurry Café

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 149.7

Novi, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+12484828747

Qahwah House Coffee - Grand Rapids

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 23

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+16162449419

Visit website

Taste Coffee Company

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 92.1

Mason, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15172200447

Visit website

Good Deeds Coffee Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 115.2

Fowlerville, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+15172199046

Visit website

Apothecary Espresso and Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 149.7

Farmington, Michigan

Hours: 7:30 am–10 pm

Visit website

Lotus Brew Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 23

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+16164198613

Visit website

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 23

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+16169571580

Visit website

Painting with a Twist

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 149.7

Farmington, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+12484767928

Visit website

Fitzgerald Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 69.1

Grand Ledge, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+15176277351

Visit website

Grand Rapids Escape Room

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 23

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 4–8 pm

+16164019441

Visit website

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 92.1

East Lansing, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15178844800

Visit website

Camelot Park

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 23

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 6:30 am–9 pm

+16164563232

Visit website

Fish Ladder Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 23

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+16164563696

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 15.2 and 159.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
15.2 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit

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

Use the left lane.
7
81.2 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in | I 96

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 East: Detroit

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 96 East: Detroit
8
148.1 mi into trip | ~2h 44m 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
155.2 mi into trip | ~2h 52m 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
159.8 mi into trip | ~2h 58m 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

$25.20 one way

$50.40 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $27.67 $55.34
premium $4.89 $31.02 $62.04
diesel $5.61 $35.59 $71.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.4 0 $16.93 $7.74
Efficient EV 40.3 0 $14.10 $6.45
EV Truck/SUV 64.5 0 $22.57 $10.32

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 kg (66% 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

Kent City, MI

Morning in Kent City on Sunday

Local time

7:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Livonia, MI

Morning in Livonia on Sunday

Local time

7:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°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

1 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

3h 1m 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?

This route is an 88% highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained interstates. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 132.6 miles, primarily on I 96. You'll experience a consistent, high-speed environment for the bulk of the trip. The road's character remains largely consistent, offering a predictable driving experience from start to finish.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.6 mi on I 96.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and M-37. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 161.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.2 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.1 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.

Between Kent City, MI and Livonia, MI, road signs point toward M 5 North: Detroit and Toledo.

M 5 North: Detroit

148.1 mi in | ~2h 44m

Toledo

148.1 mi in | ~2h 44m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 161.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 132.6 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.2 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Livonia, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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