Origin
Lansing, MI
Late night in Lansing on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lansing, MI to Jenison, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
75.8 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jenison, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
Lansing to Jenison is 75.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 25 minutes via I 96, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a convenient option for a quick hop between cities. You'll find the route efficient, with minimal detours, perfect for a day trip or an easy leg of a longer journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 53.7 mi | 57m |
| Gerald R Ford Freeway | 11.6 mi | 13m |
| Ransom E Olds Freeway | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| I 69 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| I 496 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Baldwin Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Saint Joseph Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 53.7 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lansing, MI and Jenison, MI.
1
Start on Townsend Street
22 ft
·
6 sec
·
Townsend Street
2
Turn left onto West Allegan Street
412 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Allegan Street
3
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Walnut Street
4
Turn right onto West Saint Joseph Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Saint Joseph Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 496 West
6
Merge onto I 496
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Ransom E Olds Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 496
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 496
Toward I 69 North, I 96 West: Flint, Grand Rapids
8
Merge onto I 69; I 96
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 69; I 96
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
54 mi
·
57 min
·
I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 196
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Gerald R Ford Freeway
Exit 37
Toward I 196: Downtown Grand Rapids, Holland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Baldwin Street
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on Baldwin Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Baldwin Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto Cottonwood Drive
45 ft
·
0 sec
·
Cottonwood Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Cottonwood Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.9 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Allegan Street
Turn left onto West Allegan Street
Navigation decision point
6
5.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 496
Keep slight right at fork onto I 496 toward I 69 North, I 96 West: Flint, Grand Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 69 North, I 96 West: Flint, Grand Rapi...
7
9.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
9
63.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
I 196 / Gerald R Ford Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 196 / Gerald R Ford Freeway toward I 196: Downtown Grand Rapids, Holland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 37
Toward I 196: Downtown Grand Rapids, Holland
6
75 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward Baldwin Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Baldwin Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.85 one way
$23.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.01 | $26.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.59 | $29.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.74 | $33.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.96 | $3.64 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.63 | $3.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.61 | $4.85 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Jenison, MI
Late night in Jenison on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Forest Hills, MI
38 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
1 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
1h 25m 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 97% of the route utilizing major roads like I 96 and Gerald R Ford Freeway. You'll experience a long stretch of uninterrupted driving, with 53.7 miles on I 96 before encountering surface roads. Expect a fairly constant flow of traffic and numerous exits as you approach your destination, typical for this type of urban-to-urban highway travel.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.7 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Gerald R Ford Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Allegan Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 (West Allegan Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.6 miles (I 496): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Lansing, MI and Jenison, MI, road signs point toward Grand Rapids and Holland.
Grand Rapids
5.6 mi in
|
~7m
|
via I 496
Holland
63.4 mi in
|
~1h 9m
|
via I 196
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 75.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.7 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Jenison, 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 (West Allegan Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.6 miles (I 496): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jenison, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Jenison, MI
Explore more options from Lansing, MI or browse trips ending in Jenison, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.