Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
15.7 mi
25 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kentwood, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Wilder Center, MI
Eduard Perez
Kentwood to Wilder Center is 15.7 miles and takes about 21 minutes via US 131, I 96, and 52nd Street Southeast, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within Michigan's Midwest region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a short hop, perfect for a quick errand or connecting to a longer journey. You'll likely find it convenient for local travel without extensive planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 131 | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| I 96 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| 52nd Street Southeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 54th Street Southwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Walker Avenue Northwest | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kellogg Woods Drive Southeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 4 Mile Road Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kentwood, MI and Wilder Center, MI.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right onto 52nd Street Southeast
Turn straight onto Kellogg Woods Drive Southeast
Continue on 54th Street Southwest
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 131
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 96
Take the exit
Turn right onto Walker Avenue Northwest
Turn left onto 4 Mile Road Northwest
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto 52nd Street Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 131
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 96, M 37: Muskegon, Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96: Muskegon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward Walker Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.62 one way
$5.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.62 | $2.86 | $5.72 |
| premium | $5.25 | $3.25 | $6.49 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $3.88 | $7.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.00 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Kentwood on Thursday
Local time
11:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
Destination
Night in Wilder Center on Thursday
Local time
11:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 74% of the 15.7 miles on major roads like US 131 and I 96. The longest stretch on highway is 9.9 miles, so expect a good amount of higher-speed cruising before transitioning to surface streets. You'll notice the change from highway speeds to more moderate speeds as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 131 and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 52nd Street Southeast.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 15.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (52nd Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (US 131): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
181 ft
Total Descent
134 ft
Highest Point
772 ft
~14.6 mi in
Elevation Range
165 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kentwood, MI and Wilder Center, MI, road signs point toward M 37: Muskegon and Lansing.
M 37: Muskegon
Lansing
Founded 1967
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 15.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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