Livonia, MI to Laurium, MI is 561.6 miles and takes about 10h 49m via I 75 and US 41, with a fuel budget near $99 and best split over 2 days. This long-haul drive takes you north through Michigan's Midwest regions, transitioning from the Detroit metro area into the Upper Peninsula. With 3 recommended stops and a significant portion on highways, it's a trip that requires some planning to break up the driving time comfortably. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward path to the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
280.8 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
180.5 mi
3h 4m
US 41
86.1 mi
1h 52m
US 23
79.3 mi
1h 25m
M-28
70.9 mi
1h 23m
US-2 West
62.1 mi
1h 12m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
23 mi
24m
M 77
17.3 mi
20m
County Road 480
12.5 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 180.5 mi, about 3h 4m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,617 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,601
Quietest
2 AM
~82 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.7×
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 Laurium, 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
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 75; US 23
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
118 mi·2 hr 1 min·I 75
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 344BToward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
17
Merge onto US 2; I 75 BL
0.7 mi·1 min·US-2 West
18
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi·3 min·US 2
19
Continue on US 2
61 mi·1 hr 11 min·US-2 West
20
Turn right onto M 77
17 mi·20 min·M 77
21
Turn sharp left onto M 28
35 mi·41 min·M-28
22
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi·28 sec·Cedar Street
23
Enter roundabout onto M 28
194 ft·11 sec·East Munising
24
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi·4 min·East Munising
25
Continue on M 28
36 mi·42 min·M-28
26
Continue on CR 551
1.8 mi·2 min·Cherry Creek Road
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn right onto CR 480
13 mi·18 min·County Road 480
28
Continue on Rail Street
0.4 mi·36 sec·Rail Street
29
Turn right onto Division Street
503 ft·10 sec·Division Street
30
Turn right onto M 28 BUS
440 ft·12 sec·West Main Street
31
Turn left onto M 28 BUS
0.5 mi·52 sec·North Teal Lake Avenue
32
Turn left onto US 41; M 28
2.7 mi·4 min·US Highway 41
33
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
83 ft·4 sec·US 41; M 28
34
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; M 28
35
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
88 ft·5 sec·US 41; M 28
36
Continue on US 41; M 28
85 mi·1 hr 51 min·US 41; M 28
37
Turn left onto US 41
0.2 mi·34 sec·Front Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on US 41
510 ft·13 sec·Reservation Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
39
Turn left onto East White Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East White Street
40
At end of road, turn right onto US 41
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Lincoln Drive
41
Continue on US 41
8.4 mi·11 min·US-41
42
Continue on US 41
1.3 mi·2 min·County Road
43
Turn right onto Rockland Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·Rockland Street
44
Turn right onto Lake Linden Avenue
0.3 mi·36 sec·Lake Linden Avenue
45
Turn sharp left onto M 26
0.3 mi·41 sec·Hecla Street
46
Turn left onto M 26
85 ft·2 sec·3rd Street
47
Arrive at destination
M 26
Trip Plan
Given the 10 hour 49 minute drive time, this route is best tackled over 2 days. Plan to leave Livonia in the morning to maximize daylight hours. The longest stretch without a break is over 180 miles, so be sure to refuel and stretch your legs before embarking on that segment. With 3 recommended stops, you have flexibility in how you divide the driving, but consider stopping for the night around the halfway point or a bit further to make the second day more manageable. Budgeting around $99 for fuel is a good starting point for this 561.6 mile trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 280.8 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 4h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.5 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 124 miles or 2h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 280.8 miles or 4h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 280.8 miles or 4h 55m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurium, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Livonia, MI
Aim for roughly 281 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laurium, MI
Aim for roughly 281 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 124 miles from Livonia, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 180.5 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 33
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
$93.37 one way
$186.74 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg197 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$101.71
$203.41
premium
$5.18
$114.60
$229.19
diesel
$5.35
$118.29
$236.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$93
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$223–$333
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 196.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $59 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
168.5
2
$58.97
$26.96
Efficient EV
140.4
1
$49.14
$22.46
EV Truck/SUV
224.6
2
$78.62
$35.94
Gas CO2
196 kg
EV CO2
66 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Livonia, MI
Afternoon
in Livonia on Wednesday
Local time
3:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
NNW 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Laurium, MI
Afternoon
in Laurium on Wednesday
Local time
3:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
57°F
Wells, MI
371 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
11 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
10h 49m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Keweenaw National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The stories of people and copper in the Keweenaw Peninsula have been intertwined for more than 7,000 years. Indigenous peoples made copper into tools and trade items. Investors and immigrants arrived...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 561.6
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coa...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$25
near mile 387.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 76% of this trip on highways, covering a longest stretch of 180.5 miles on I 75 before transitioning to US 41. Expect around 10 hours and 49 minutes of total driving time. Once you leave the interstate system, the feel of the drive will likely shift to more rural cruising. Keep an eye on your fuel levels as you approach the longer stretches between services.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
47 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 41. 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 Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 561.6 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
Gently rolling terrain
1,550 ft593 ft
Total Climb
2,714 ft
Total Descent
2,120 ft
Highest Point
1,550 ft
~481.4 mi in
Elevation Range
957 ft
Notable High Points
1,550 ft at ~481.4 miles+929 ft prominence
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 Laurium, MI, road signs point toward Flint and Escanaba.
The longest stretch is about 180.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 281 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 34 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 Laurium, 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 34 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 — Keweenaw National Historical Park and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.8 hours each way, a round trip means 21.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laurium, MI before the return drive.
