Origin
Kentwood, MI
Late night in Kentwood on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kentwood, MI to Lansing, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
63.3 mi
102 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kentwood, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Kentwood to Lansing, expect a straightforward 63.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination quickly without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $10 for fuel, making this an economical excursion within the Midwest. Navigating primarily via I-96, the Paul B. Henry Freeway, and West Grand River Avenue, you will find the transition between these two Michigan hubs efficient and simple. It is a highly practical drive for those prioritizing speed and reliability over complex navigation.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 43.2 mi | 46m |
| Paul B. Henry Freeway | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| West Grand River Avenue | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| 60th Street Southeast | 1 mi | 1m |
| Eastern Avenue Southeast | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Allegan Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 43.2 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kentwood, MI and Lansing, MI.
1
Start on this road
120 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto 52nd Street Southeast
165 ft
·
11 sec
·
52nd Street Southeast
3
Turn left onto Eastern Avenue Southeast
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Eastern Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto 60th Street Southeast
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
60th Street Southeast
5
Turn right onto Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward M-6 East: Lansing
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto M 6
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Paul B. Henry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I-96 East: Lansing
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 96
43 mi
·
46 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 96 BL
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 96 BL
Exit 90
Toward BL I 96: Grand River Ave
11
Turn left onto I 96 BL
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
West Grand River Avenue
12
Turn right onto North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
13
Continue on North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
14
Continue on North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
15
Turn left onto CL
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Allegan Street
16
Turn right onto Townsend Street
22 ft
·
1 sec
·
Townsend Street
17
Arrive at destination
Townsend Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.7 miles from Kentwood, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
52nd Street Southeast
At end of road, turn right onto 52nd Street Southeast
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Eastern Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto Eastern Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward M-6 East: Lansing
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward M-6 East: Lansing
5
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
M 6 / Paul B. Henry Freeway
Merge onto M 6 / Paul B. Henry Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
10.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-96 East: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-96 East: Lansing
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.90 one way
$19.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.87 | $21.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.18 | $24.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.98 | $27.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.54 | $2.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.86 | $4.05 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Lansing, MI
Late night in Lansing on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Portland, MI
32 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 16m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 81% of your time spent on major routes. You will settle into a steady rhythm on I-96, which features a longest uninterrupted stretch of 43.2 miles. While the experience is primarily defined by high-speed interstate travel, the shift onto West Grand River Avenue provides a change of pace as you approach your destination. You can expect a consistent, predictable drive that minimizes the need for frequent lane changes. It is the type of route where you can easily settle in behind the wheel and let the miles pass steadily.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.2 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Paul B. Henry Freeway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 52nd Street Southeast.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.3 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (52nd Street Southeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Eastern Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Lansing, MI
Full guide →Lansing is a pleasant city, and as Michigan's state capital, it is home to many government offices. Downtown Lansing has a historic shopping district amidst the campus of Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
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 1h 16m. Total distance: 63.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.2 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 Lansing, 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: near the start (52nd Street Southeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Eastern Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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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