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Trip from Lansing, MI to Southfield, 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 28m

Distance

76 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

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 22m ★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m

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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city in Oakland County, Michigan, United States

Southfield, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 76-mile drive from Lansing to Southfield, Michigan, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 28 minutes. Operating primarily on I-96 and the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, with a segment on US-127, this route is almost entirely highway, making it a convenient day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, it's an economical option for a quick transition within the Midwest. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, as the total travel time is quite manageable. The focus is on efficient travel between these two Michigan cities.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 56.1 mi 1h
Walter P Reuther Freeway 8.9 mi 10m
US 127 3.4 mi 3m
John C Lodge Freeway 2.5 mi 2m
East Michigan Avenue 2.1 mi 5m
West 10 Mile Road 1.1 mi 2m
I 496 0.9 mi 1m
South Howard Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 56.1 mi, about 1h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lansing, MI and Southfield, 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

56 mi · 1 hr · I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Continue on I 696

8.9 mi · 10 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port Huron Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto M 10

2.5 mi · 2 min · John C Lodge Freeway
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 15 Toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen Road Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn straight onto Northwestern Highway

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Northwestern Highway
16

Turn left onto West 10 Mile Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · West 10 Mile Road
17

Arrive at destination

West 10 Mile Road

Where to Stop

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

city and county seat of Livingston County, Michigan, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Howell, MI

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

Webberville, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Howell, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38 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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 74.5 — 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 right onto West Allegan Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Washington Square South

Turn left onto Washington Square South

Navigation decision point

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
74.5 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in

Take the exit toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen Road

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 15 Toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.88 one way

$23.76 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.05 $26.09
premium $4.89 $14.63 $29.25
diesel $5.61 $16.78 $33.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 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 22.8 0 $7.98 $3.65
Efficient EV 19 0 $6.65 $3.04
EV Truck/SUV 30.4 0 $10.64 $4.86

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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Lansing, MI

Late night in Lansing on Sunday

Local time

3:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Widespread Fog

N 2 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 9:52PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 10:40PM EDT until April 20 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac MI

Destination

Southfield, MI

Late night in Southfield on Sunday

Local time

3:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Widespread Fog

NE 5 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 9:52PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 10:40PM EDT until April 20 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac MI

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 28m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for 94% of this trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 56.1 miles on I-96, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. As you transition from I-96 to the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, the road character remains that of a major artery, designed for smooth, relatively uninterrupted travel. This route prioritizes speed and directness over varied scenery, so prepare for a driving experience dominated by the open highway.

94% 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: 56.1 mi on I 96.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Walter P Reuther Freeway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Allegan Street.

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 76 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (Washington Square South): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

On the drive from Lansing, MI to Southfield, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 5 East: Port Huron along the way.

M 5 East: Port Huron

63.1 mi in | ~1h 12m | via I 696

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 76 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 56.1 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 Southfield, 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 0.2 miles (Washington Square South): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Southfield, 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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