Livonia to Leland is 269.6 miles and takes about 5h 26m via US 23 and US 10, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Michigan, beginning in the Midwest and ending in the same region. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface roads, making for a varied but manageable trip. With a single recommended stop and a total driving time under six hours, this route is well-suited for a day trip, especially if you want to maximize your time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
134.8 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23
78.2 mi
1h 23m
US 10
56.9 mi
56m
Cadillac Drive
55.3 mi
1h 16m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
23 mi
24m
County Road 633
10.9 mi
17m
North M-37 Highway
6.9 mi
9m
South Good Harbor Trail
6.5 mi
8m
South Manitou Trail
5.8 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 23
— 78.2 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and Leland, 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
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·US 23
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 162BToward US 10 West: Midland
15
Continue on US 10
11 mi·11 min·US 10
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
38 mi·38 min·US 10
Toward US 10: Clare
17
Take the exit onto US 10
7.6 mi·7 min·US 10
Toward US 10 WEST, TO M 115: Ludington, Cadillac
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward M 115: Cadillac
19
Turn right onto M 115
55 mi·1 hr 16 min·Cadillac Drive
20
Enter roundabout onto M 37
26 ft·0 sec·North M-37 Highway
21
Continue on M 37
6.9 mi·9 min·North M-37 Highway
22
Turn left onto North 13 Road
0.7 mi·1 min·North 13 Road
23
Continue on CR 633
11 mi·17 min·County Road 633
24
Continue on CR 633
3.7 mi·5 min·South West Silver Lake Road
25
Turn left onto Secor Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Secor Road
26
Turn right onto East Long Lake Road
2.1 mi·2 min·East Long Lake Road
27
At end of road, turn left onto CR 610
0.1 mi·12 sec·North Long Lake Road
28
Turn right onto Strait Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Strait Road
29
At end of road, turn left onto Cedar Run Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Cedar Run Road
30
Turn right onto Tilton Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Tilton Road
31
At end of road, turn left onto M 72
1.0 mi·1 min·East Traverse Highway
32
Turn right onto CR 651
5.3 mi·8 min·South Cedar Road
33
Continue on CR 651
0.4 mi·39 sec·Kasson Street
34
Continue on CR 651
6.5 mi·8 min·South Good Harbor Trail
35
At end of road, turn right onto M 22
5.8 mi·8 min·South Manitou Trail
36
Continue on M 22
0.4 mi·53 sec·South Main Street
37
Turn right onto River Street
80 ft·3 sec·River Street
38
Arrive at destination
River Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 26m duration, starting early from Livonia is advisable, especially if you plan to make a stop. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 78.2 miles on US 23, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before heading into those longer segments. With a fuel cost estimated around $42, it's a budget-friendly trip. Since this route is easily doable in one day, you have the flexibility to depart later if needed, but an earlier start will give you more time upon arrival in Leland.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 134.8 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.2 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 59 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.8 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leland, 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 269.6 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 US 23 for about 78.2 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 29
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
$44.82 one way
$89.65 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$48.83
$97.65
premium
$5.18
$55.01
$110.03
diesel
$5.35
$56.79
$113.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.9
0
$28.31
$12.94
Efficient EV
67.4
0
$23.59
$10.78
EV Truck/SUV
107.8
1
$37.74
$17.25
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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
Leland, MI
Afternoon
in Leland on Wednesday
Local time
3:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
59°F
Wise, MI
135 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.
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
8 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
5h 26m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacula...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
$25
near mile 260.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 51% of this route is highway driving, with the remaining portion on surface roads. Your longest continuous stretch on a single highway will be 78.2 miles on US 23. Expect to transition from more developed highway sections with frequent exits to more open cruising as you move onto US 10 and then Cadillac Drive. This mixed profile means you'll experience both faster-paced travel and more relaxed surface road driving.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.2 mi on US 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 29 significant decision points across 269.6 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
1,458 ft597 ft
Total Climb
1,138 ft
Total Descent
1,179 ft
Highest Point
1,458 ft
~211.8 mi in
Elevation Range
861 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 Leland, MI, road signs point toward Flint, To M 115: Ludington, Cadillac and M 115: Cadillac.
Leland is a village in Leelanau County, Michigan (also known as the Leelanau Peninsula on the shore of Lake Michigan. Leland is the site of the oldest and largest Ottawa village on the Leelanau Peninsula named Mishi-me-go-bing, "the place where canoes run up into the river to land, because they have no harbor". European settlement began when the Antoine Manseau family came from North Manitou Island in 1853.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 269.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.2 miles on US 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 Leland, 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. There are 16 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 — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Leland, MI before the return drive.
