Traveling from Livonia to Alpena covers 246.1 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 42 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, you should plan for a full day of travel. Budgeting roughly $37 for fuel will cover your transit across the Michigan Midwest. While it is possible to complete the trek in a single day, the winding nature of the roads makes it a substantial commitment. You will spend your time navigating off the main highway system, so expect a slower, more deliberate pace compared to typical freeway travel. Preparing for this trip requires patience, as the route demands your full attention throughout the journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
123.1 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23
79.3 mi
1h 25m
State Highway 65
60.3 mi
1h 10m
I 75
26.6 mi
26m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
23 mi
24m
M 32
15.7 mi
20m
M 65
8.4 mi
9m
West Huron Road
6.3 mi
8m
North Hale Road
4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 23
— 79.3 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and Alpena, MI.
1
Start on this road
74 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right
87 ft·8 sec
3
Turn right onto Plymouth Road
149 ft·10 sec·Plymouth Road
4
Turn left onto Merriman Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Merriman Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto Schoolcraft Road
333 ft·12 sec·Schoolcraft Road
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on Schoolcraft Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Schoolcraft Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 96 West
8
Merge onto I 96
3.3 mi·3 min·Jeffries Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 96 West, I 275 North: Flint, LansingUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 275; I 96
23 mi·24 min·Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·11 sec
Exit 148A; 147; 147BToward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, FlintUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·54 sec
Exit 148BToward US 23 North: FlintUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto US 23
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·US 23
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
27 mi·26 min·I 75; US 23
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward M 61: Standish, Gladwin
16
Turn right onto M 61
2.1 mi·3 min·M-61
17
Continue on M 61
0.6 mi·1 min·West Cedar Street
18
Turn left onto US 23
0.5 mi·1 min·North Main Street
19
Continue on US 23
6.3 mi·8 min·West Huron Road
20
Continue on US 23
0.6 mi·1 min·West Center Road
21
Continue on US 23
2.0 mi·2 min·East Huron Road
22
Turn left onto M 65
4.0 mi·4 min·North Hale Road
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on M 65
1.1 mi·1 min·State Street
24
Continue on M 65
2.9 mi·3 min·Hale Road
25
Continue on M 65
4.5 mi·5 min·State Highway 65
26
Continue on M 65
1.0 mi·1 min·South Bullock Street
27
Continue on M 65
4.5 mi·5 min·State Highway 65
28
Continue on M 65
4.4 mi·5 min·M 65
29
Continue on M 65
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 65
30
Continue on M 65
4.0 mi·4 min·M 65
31
Continue on M 65
11 mi·12 min·State Highway 65
Use the straight lane.
32
Continue on M 65
1.5 mi·1 min·Baker Road
33
Continue on M 65
3.2 mi·3 min·South State Road
34
Continue on M 65
39 mi·44 min·State Highway 65
35
Continue on M 32; M 65
16 mi·20 min·M 32; M 65
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
Turn right onto US 23
273 ft·9 sec·East Chisholm Street
Use the right lane.
37
Arrive at destination
US 23
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to ensure you reach Alpena comfortably before dark. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs, as the continuous turns can be more fatiguing than a straight interstate drive. Keep your fuel gauge in mind and consider topping off before you get too deep into the local road sections to avoid any range anxiety. Given the 246.1-mile distance, staying flexible with your pace will make the 4-hour and 42-minute duration much more manageable. Pay close attention to your GPS, as the reliance on local roads like Schoolcraft and Merriman means missing a turn could add significant time to your trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 123.1 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 54 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.1 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alpena, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Livonia, 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 Livonia, MI
This is one driving day of about 246.1 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Livonia, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 23 for about 79.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 29 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Merriman Road
Turn left onto Merriman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in|Schoolcraft Road
Turn right onto Schoolcraft Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
4.9 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 96 West, I 275 North: Flint, Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 96 West, I 275 North: Flint, Lansing
8
28.8 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, 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; 147; 147B
Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spe...
8
29 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 148B
Toward US 23 North: Flint
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.47 one way
$76.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.24
$84.49
premium
$4.89
$47.36
$94.72
diesel
$5.61
$54.34
$108.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.8
0
$25.84
$11.81
Efficient EV
61.5
0
$21.53
$9.84
EV Truck/SUV
98.4
1
$34.45
$15.75
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Livonia, MI
Late night
in Livonia on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alpena, MI
Late night
in Alpena on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
10 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
4h 42m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 very different experience than a standard highway cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate via Plymouth Road, Merriman Road, and Schoolcraft Road, creating a technical, turn-heavy atmosphere that keeps you engaged. Because the drive relies entirely on local roads, you should not anticipate long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed cruising. The personality of this drive is distinctly hands-on, requiring frequent adjustments and careful navigation. It is a practical path that prioritizes regional connectivity over the efficiency of an interstate, so plan on constant changes in road flow.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.3 mi on US 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and State Highway 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Merriman Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 246.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Merriman Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (Schoolcraft Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 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.
Between Livonia, MI and Alpena, MI, road signs point toward Flint, M 61: Standish and Gladwin.
Flint
28.8 mi in|~34m
M 61: Standish
135.6 mi in|~2h 26m
Gladwin
135.6 mi in|~2h 26m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 42m. Total distance: 246.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.3 miles on US 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Alpena, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Merriman Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (Schoolcraft Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Alpena, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
