Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
58.5 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Livonia, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Elba, MI
Wikimedia Commons
This 58.5-mile drive from Livonia, MI to Elba, MI is a straightforward, one-day trip that will take about 1 hour and 29 minutes to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, it’s an economical option for a quick getaway within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads, including Ortonville Road and South State Road, with a small portion on M-5. Given its short duration and straightforward nature, this drive is perfectly suited for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without the need for an overnight stop. You'll be navigating a series of turns as you make your way north.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ortonville Road | 9.8 mi | 14m |
| South State Road | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| M 5 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway | 5 mi | 5m |
| South Williams Lake Road | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Jeffries Freeway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Davison Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Union Lake Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and Elba, MI.
Start on this road
Turn right
Turn right onto Plymouth Road
Turn left onto Merriman Road
Turn right onto Schoolcraft Road
Continue on Schoolcraft Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 96
Take the exit
Merge onto I 275; I 96
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on M 5
Enter roundabout onto Martin Parkway
Continue on Martin Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Martin Parkway
Continue on Martin Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Martin Parkway
Continue on Martin Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Martin Road
Continue on Martin Road
At end of road, turn right onto Richardson Road
Turn left onto Union Lake Road
Turn right onto Cooley Lake Road
Turn left onto South Williams Lake Road
Turn left onto Maceday Lake Road
Turn right onto Nelsey Road
Continue on White Lake Road
Continue on South Holcomb Road
Turn right onto West Washington Street
Turn left onto M 15
Continue on M 15
Continue on M 15
Turn right onto East Lippincott Boulevard
Turn left onto South Oak Road
Enter roundabout onto South Oak Road
Continue on South Oak Road
Turn right onto Davison Road
Turn right onto South Elba Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 29.2 miles from Livonia, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 11.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Merriman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Schoolcraft Road
Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward I 696, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward M 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.15 one way
$18.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.04 | $20.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.26 | $22.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.92 | $25.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.14 | $2.81 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.19 | $3.74 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Livonia on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Elba on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for most of this 58.5-mile journey. Only 8% of the route involves highway travel, meaning you'll be spending the majority of your time on roads like Ortonville Road and South State Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.8 miles on Ortonville Road, offering a brief period of consistent cruising before more turns appear. This driving profile suggests a more engaged experience behind the wheel, requiring your attention as you navigate through various local landscapes rather than a monotonous interstate experience.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.5 miles you will encounter 29 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Livonia, MI and Elba, MI, road signs point toward Lansing, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron and M 5 North.
Lansing
M 5 East
M 5 North: Port Huron
M 5 North
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 58.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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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