Livonia, MI to Duplain, MI is 100 miles and takes about 1 hour 58 minutes via I 96 and US 127, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Michigan. Given its relatively short distance and straightforward route, it’s a practical option for a single-day excursion. You'll spend a good portion of your time on major highways, making it a fairly direct connection between these two locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
38.9 mi
41m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
25.6 mi
27m
US 127
18.8 mi
19m
Jeffries Freeway
3.3 mi
3m
North Watson Road
3.1 mi
8m
Ransom E Olds Freeway
2.8 mi
3m
M 21
2.6 mi
3m
Merriman Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 38.9 mi, about 41m
Traffic on I-96
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,672 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,292
Quietest
2 AM
~164 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and Duplain, 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
39 mi·41 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 106BToward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
13
Merge onto I 496; US 127
2.8 mi·3 min·Ransom E Olds Freeway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 127
19 mi·19 min·US 127
Exit 8Toward US 127 North: Clare
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward M 21: St Johns, Owosso
16
Turn right onto M 21
2.6 mi·3 min·M 21
17
Turn left onto North Watson Road
1.5 mi·2 min·North Watson Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto Faragher Road
0.1 mi·27 sec·Faragher Road
19
Turn right onto North Watson Road
1.6 mi·6 min·North Watson Road
20
At end of road, turn right onto East Colony Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Colony Road
21
Turn left onto East Maple River Road
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Maple River Road
22
Arrive at destination
East Maple River Road
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 58-minute drive, leaving anytime in the morning should give you ample time to arrive and settle in. Since it's a short trip at just 100 miles, you won't need many stops; however, there are ample opportunities along I 96 if you wish to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $16, and plan your fill-up accordingly, perhaps before you leave Livonia or during the longer highway stretches. The transition from highway to surface roads near Duplain means paying closer attention to speed limits and local traffic.
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 50 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.9 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50 miles or 56m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Duplain, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Livonia, MI
This is one driving day of about 100 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Livonia, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 38.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 70.3 — 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.
6
70.3 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.63 one way
$33.25 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$18.11
$36.22
premium
$5.18
$20.41
$40.81
diesel
$5.35
$21.06
$42.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30
0
$10.50
$4.80
Efficient EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
EV Truck/SUV
40
0
$14.00
$6.40
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Livonia, MI
Evening
in Livonia on Wednesday
Local time
5:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Duplain, MI
Evening
in Duplain on Wednesday
Local time
5:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy
NNW 2 mph0% chanceLive 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
7 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 58m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 64% of the 100 miles on major roads like I 96 and US 127. You'll encounter your longest stretch without needing to exit on I 96, covering 38.9 miles. The route transitions from highway cruising to surface roads, so expect a change in traffic patterns and speed limits as you approach your destination. The highway portion offers consistent travel, while the latter part will involve more local road conditions.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.9 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 100 miles you will encounter 20 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: 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
968 ft638 ft
Total Climb
389 ft
Total Descent
294 ft
Highest Point
968 ft
~35.7 mi in
Elevation Range
330 ft
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 Duplain, MI, road signs point toward M 21: St Johns and Owosso.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 100 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.9 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Duplain, 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: 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 Duplain, MI before heading back.
