This 124.7-mile drive from Lawrence to Ann Arbor, Michigan, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 2 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily on local roads, with Red Arrow Highway and County Road 671 being key parts of your journey. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $19, this route offers a straightforward way to travel within the Midwest region. The lack of highway driving suggests a more relaxed pace, allowing you to enjoy the local scenery as you make your way across the state. Given its short duration and turn-heavy profile, it's an ideal option for a leisurely day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.9 miles from Lawrence, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
114.9 mi
2h 3m
Red Arrow Highway
4 mi
5m
I 94 BL
3 mi
6m
County Road 671
0.7 mi
<1m
West Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi
1m
South State Street
0.3 mi
<1m
M-51
<0.1 mi
<1m
43rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 114.9 mi, about 2h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.
1
Start on West Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Saint Joseph Street
2
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Arrow Highway
4.0 mi·5 min·Red Arrow Highway
3
Turn right onto 671
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 671
4
Turn straight onto M 51
290 ft·4 sec·43rd Street
5
Continue on M 51
385 ft·5 sec·M-51
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
7
Merge onto I 94
114 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 94
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
0.6 mi·36 sec·I 94
Toward I 94, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann Arbor
9
Take the exit onto I 94 BL
3.0 mi·6 min·I 94 BL
Exit 172Toward I 94 Business: Ann ArborUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto South State Street
0.3 mi·35 sec·South State Street
11
Arrive at destination
South State Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 2 hours, this trip from Lawrence to Ann Arbor offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart in the morning and arrive in Ann Arbor with ample time to explore. Since there are no designated stops in the data, consider planning a brief pause for fuel or a quick break around the halfway point, perhaps near where County Road 671 might intersect with other local routes. The estimated fuel cost is $19, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you set off, especially since this is a local road drive with no major highway services readily apparent. Pay attention to local speed limits as you transition between different road types.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.9 miles from Lawrence, MI, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.9 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ann Arbor, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lawrence, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lawrence, MI
This is one driving day of about 123.9 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Lawrence, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 114.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 120.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Red Arrow Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Arrow Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
4.6 mi into trip|~6m in|671 / County Road 671
Turn right onto 671 / County Road 671
Navigation decision point
4
5.4 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 94 East: Detroit
Navigation decision point
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
6
120 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann Arbor
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann Arbor
7
120.6 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|I 94 BL
Take the exit onto I 94 BL toward I 94 Business: Ann Arbor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 172
Toward I 94 Business: Ann Arbor
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.37 one way
$38.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.27
$42.54
premium
$4.89
$23.84
$47.69
diesel
$5.61
$27.36
$54.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.2
0
$13.01
$5.95
Efficient EV
31
0
$10.84
$4.96
EV Truck/SUV
49.6
0
$17.35
$7.93
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 16, 2026
Origin
Lawrence, MI
Late night
in Lawrence on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night
in Ann Arbor on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Homer, MI
62 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
2h 19m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 124.7-mile journey, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be on county roads and smaller state routes for the majority of your travel, offering a more intimate connection with the landscape. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile indicates frequent changes in direction rather than long, straightaways. Prepare for a driving experience that requires your attention, as you'll be navigating through communities and along roads that aren't designed for high speeds. This route emphasizes local road navigation over high-speed cruising.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.9 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Red Arrow Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Red Arrow Highway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 19m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Red Arrow Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.6 miles (671 / County Road 671): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 123.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 114.9 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Red Arrow Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.6 miles (671 / County Road 671): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ann Arbor, MI before heading back.
