Livonia to Hemlock is 112.3 miles and takes about 2 hours 6 minutes via US 23, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region from start to finish. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making for a straightforward trip. It's a good option for a quick day trip or as a segment of a larger regional adventure. Plan for a direct route with minimal complications.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.2 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23
64.7 mi
1h 9m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
23 mi
24m
Gratiot Road
11.4 mi
13m
Jeffries Freeway
3.3 mi
3m
Sheridan Avenue
1.9 mi
2m
East Holland Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
Gratiot Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
East Remington Street
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 23
— 64.7 mi, about 1h 9m
Traffic on I-96
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,912 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~209 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 2 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 Hemlock, 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
65 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 23
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·44 sec
Exit 149Toward M 46: Buena Vista, Sandusky
15
Enter roundabout onto M 46
13 ft·0 sec·East Holland Avenue
16
Continue on M 46
0.2 mi·15 sec·East Holland Avenue
17
Enter roundabout onto M 46
106 ft·5 sec·East Holland Avenue
18
Continue on M 46
1.1 mi·1 min·East Holland Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn slight right onto M 46
1.1 mi·1 min·East Remington Street
20
Turn left onto M 46
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheridan Avenue
21
Continue on M 46
0.4 mi·34 sec·Williams Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto Gratiot Avenue
1.3 mi·1 min·Gratiot Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on M 46
11 mi·13 min·Gratiot Road
24
Continue on M 46
0.3 mi·19 sec·East Saginaw Street
25
Arrive at destination
M 46
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour drive, leaving mid-morning is ideal, allowing you to avoid peak rush hour traffic in the Livonia area. Since it's a shorter trip, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but a quick break around the halfway point is always a good idea. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is around $17, and it's wise to top off before leaving Livonia or at a major exit on US 23. The longest stretch without significant exits is over 64 miles, so ensure you have any necessities before embarking on that segment.
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 56.2 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.7 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.2 miles or 1h 3m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hemlock, 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 112.3 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Livonia, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 23 for about 64.7 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 17
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
$18.73 one way
$37.47 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$20.36
$40.72
premium
$5.26
$23.25
$46.50
diesel
$6.18
$27.32
$54.64
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: 39.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.7
0
$11.79
$5.39
Efficient EV
28.1
0
$9.83
$4.49
EV Truck/SUV
44.9
0
$15.72
$7.19
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Livonia, MI
Morning
in Livonia on Sunday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
NW 5 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hemlock, MI
Morning
in Hemlock on Sunday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Sunny
W 3 to 13 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
2 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 6m 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 route is primarily highway, with 61% of it on major roadways like US 23 and the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway. You'll experience a long stretch of 64.7 miles on US 23 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a relatively consistent driving experience, with fewer exits and more open cruising for a significant portion of the drive. The transition to Gratiot Road marks the shift to more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.7 mi on US 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 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 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 17 significant decision points across 112.3 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
974 ft604 ft
Total Climb
399 ft
Total Descent
386 ft
Highest Point
974 ft
~16 mi in
Elevation Range
371 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 Hemlock, MI, road signs point toward Flint, M 46: Buena Vista and Sandusky.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 112.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.7 miles on US 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 Hemlock, 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 Hemlock, MI before heading back.
