Origin
Lansing, MI
Late night in Lansing on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lansing, MI to Swartz Creek, 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
52m
Distance
43.1 mi
69 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Swartz Creek, MI
Frank Krasznavolgyi
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across Michigan, the 43.1-mile journey from Lansing to Swartz Creek is an ideal choice. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 52 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $7 for fuel will cover your transit costs effectively. Since both locations are situated in the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout your travel. Because the drive is short, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging or complex itineraries. It is a practical, efficient route that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary hassle.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 69 BL | 33.6 mi | 34m |
| East Saginaw Street | 7 mi | 11m |
| Saginaw Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Larch Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Morrish Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Michigan Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Allegan Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Square South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 69 BL
— 33.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lansing, MI and Swartz Creek, 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
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Michigan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto I 96 BL
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Larch Street
7
Turn right onto I 69 BL; M 43
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Saginaw Street
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 BL
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Saginaw Street
9
Continue on I 69 BL
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Saginaw Highway
10
Take the ramp onto I 69 BL
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 69 BL
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 BL
33 mi
·
33 min
·
I 69 BL
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 128
Toward Morrish Road
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto Morrish Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Morrish Road
14
Turn left onto Miller Road
60 ft
·
1 sec
·
Miller Road
15
Arrive at destination
Miller Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
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 42.4 — 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
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Michigan Avenue
Enter roundabout onto East Michigan Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 96 BL / North Larch Street
Turn left onto I 96 BL / North Larch Street
Navigation decision point
7
42.4 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Morrish Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 128
Toward Morrish Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.74 one way
$13.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.40 | $14.80 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.29 | $16.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.52 | $19.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Swartz Creek, MI
Late night in Swartz Creek on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
19 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
52m 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 highway-focused drive as you navigate through the heart of the state. With 78% of the journey spent on major roads, you will spend most of your time on I-69 BL, East Saginaw Street, and Saginaw Highway. A significant portion of your trip consists of a 33.6-mile stretch on I-69 BL, providing a consistent pace for the majority of your time behind the wheel. The road transitions smoothly between these arteries, offering a predictable driving experience. You won't find many technical challenges here, as the route is designed for steady, efficient movement rather than winding detours.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.6 mi on I 69 BL.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 BL and East Saginaw Street. You will hit about 11 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 43.1 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 0.2 miles (Washington Square South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Michigan Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 52m. Total distance: 43.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.6 miles on I 69 BL. 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 Swartz Creek, 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 0.2 miles (East Michigan Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Swartz Creek, 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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