If you are planning a trip from Livonia to Cedar Springs, expect a straightforward journey covering 157.7 miles. You should budget approximately 2 hours and 59 minutes of total driving time, making this an ideal candidate for a comfortable single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, the trip is quite economical for a regional Michigan getaway. Since both locations are situated within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the suburbs of Livonia to the northern setting of Cedar Springs. Because the travel time is under three hours, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing an overnight stay, keeping your itinerary flexible.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.8 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
107.7 mi
1h 55m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
25.6 mi
27m
Northland Drive Northeast
7.7 mi
10m
East Beltline Avenue Northeast
5.7 mi
7m
Wolverine Boulevard Northeast
4.1 mi
5m
Jeffries Freeway
3.3 mi
3m
Merriman Road
1 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 107.7 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and Cedar Springs, 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
26 mi·27 min·Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
55 mi·58 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
53 mi·56 min·I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 38Toward M 44, M 37 South: East Beltline AvenueUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto M 44
5.7 mi·7 min·East Beltline Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on M 44
1.8 mi·2 min·Northland Drive Northeast
16
Continue on M 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Wolverine Boulevard Northeast
17
Continue on Northland Drive Northeast
5.9 mi·8 min·Northland Drive Northeast
18
Continue on South Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
19
Turn left onto West Cherry Street Northeast
136 ft·10 sec·West Cherry Street Northeast
20
Turn left
193 ft·14 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 157.7-mile trek, aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on I-96. While the drive is short enough to complete in one stretch, planning for at least one stop will help you stay alert and comfortable behind the wheel. Since your fuel budget is approximately $24, filling up before you leave Livonia ensures you have enough range to reach Cedar Springs without needing to hunt for stations along the way. Keep in mind that the final leg of your trip involves Northland Drive Northeast, so pay close attention to your navigation as you exit the highway system. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your departure time to suit your personal schedule.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.8 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.7 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 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.8 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Springs, 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 157.7 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 I 96 for about 107.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 139.1 — 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
6
31.4 mi into trip|~36m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
139.1 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward M 44, M 37 South: East Beltline Avenue
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 38
Toward M 44, M 37 South: East Beltline Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.65 one way
$49.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.07
$54.14
premium
$4.89
$30.35
$60.70
diesel
$5.61
$34.82
$69.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.3
0
$16.56
$7.57
Efficient EV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
EV Truck/SUV
63.1
0
$22.08
$10.09
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 20, 2026
Origin
Livonia, MI
Late night
in Livonia on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Springs, MI
Late night
in Cedar Springs on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
15 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 59m 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?
This route is primarily highway-focused, with 70% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-96, which includes a significant 107.7-mile stretch that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. As you progress, the journey transitions from the heavy traffic flow of the highway to the more relaxed pace of the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway and Northland Drive Northeast. Expect a mix of fast-paced interstate cruising followed by a shift toward local road navigation as you approach your final destination. The transition from the busy highway environment to these secondary roads gives the drive a distinct change in pace by the time you reach Cedar Springs.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.7 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 157.7 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,008 ft638 ft
Total Climb
693 ft
Total Descent
482 ft
Highest Point
1,008 ft
~33.8 mi in
Elevation Range
370 ft
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 Livonia, MI to Cedar Springs, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 44 along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 157.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.7 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 Cedar Springs, 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cedar Springs, MI before heading back.
