Origin
Lansing, MI
Late night in Lansing on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lansing, MI to Ann Arbor, 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 17m
Distance
65.2 mi
105 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 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Lansing to Ann Arbor is a straightforward journey that covers 65.2 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited as a quick day outing, requiring no overnight stays to reach your destination comfortably. With a fuel budget of approximately $10, it is an economical route for a short excursion within the Midwest. You will rely primarily on I-96, US-23, and US-127 to navigate between these two Michigan hubs. Because the drive is brief and direct, you have total flexibility to head out whenever it best fits your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 40 mi | 42m |
| US 23 | 14.1 mi | 15m |
| US 127 | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| US 23 BUS | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| East Michigan Avenue | 2.1 mi | 5m |
| I 496 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North State Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Depot Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 40 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lansing, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.
1
Start on Townsend Street
22 ft
·
3 sec
·
Townsend Street
2
Turn right onto West Allegan Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Allegan Street
3
Turn left onto Washington Square South
339 ft
·
11 sec
·
Washington Square South
4
Enter roundabout onto East Michigan Avenue
20 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Michigan Avenue
5
Continue on East Michigan Avenue
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
East Michigan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto South Howard Avenue
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Howard Avenue
7
Take the ramp
440 ft
·
10 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 496 EAST, US 127 SOUTH
9
Merge onto US 127
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 127
10
Take the exit onto I 496
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 496
Exit 73A
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 96
40 mi
·
42 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 148A-B
Toward US 23: Ann Arbor, Flint
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 148A
Toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto US 23
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 23 BUS
Exit 45
Toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 23 BUS
Exit 3
Toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto Depot Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Depot Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right
119 ft
·
6 sec
19
Continue on North State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
South State Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 32.6 miles from Lansing, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 61.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 496 EAST, US 127 SOUTH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 496 EAST, US 127 SOUTH
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m 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
47 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
47.3 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
61.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.19 one way
$20.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.19 | $22.38 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.55 | $25.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.40 | $28.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.13 | $4.17 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night in Ann Arbor on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 17m 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?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 93% of this 65.2-mile trek keeps you on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time at highway speeds, including a significant 40-mile stretch along I-96 that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the journey. The route feels utilitarian and fast-paced, designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal complexity. While you won't encounter winding scenic backroads, the transition between these major Michigan corridors is consistent and predictable. It is a no-nonsense drive that rewards drivers who prefer steady, high-speed travel over local stop-and-go navigation.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and US 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles (I 496): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lansing, MI and Ann Arbor, MI, road signs point toward Flint and M 14 West: Ann Arbor.
Flint
47 mi in
|
~55m
M 14 West: Ann Arbor
61.8 mi in
|
~1h 11m
|
via US 23 BUS
About the Cities
Starting 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 17m. Total distance: 65.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40 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 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 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles (I 496): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ann Arbor, 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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