Livonia, MI to Pickford, MI is 328.7 miles and takes about 5h 58m via I 75 and US 23, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's primarily a highway drive, so expect a straightforward trip with minimal detours. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a solid option for a quick journey up north without needing an overnight stay. Consider this if you're looking for an efficient drive to 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
164.3 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
195.2 mi
3h 18m
US 23
79.3 mi
1h 25m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
23 mi
24m
West M 48
11.1 mi
16m
Mackinac Trail
10.3 mi
18m
Jeffries Freeway
3.3 mi
3m
South M 129
2 mi
2m
Merriman Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 195.2 mi, about 3h 18m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,428 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,312
Quietest
2 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Pickford, 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
132 mi·2 hr 15 min·I 75
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 359Toward M 134: De Tour Village, Drummond Island
17
Turn left onto M 134
0.6 mi·57 sec·North Huron Shore Drive
18
Turn sharp right onto H-63
10 mi·18 min·Mackinac Trail
19
Turn right onto M 48
11 mi·16 min·West M 48
20
Turn right onto M 129; M 48
2.0 mi·2 min·South M 129
21
Arrive at destination
M 129; M 48
Trip Plan
This 5h 58m drive is well within the range of a single day, so leaving in the morning should get you to Pickford with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or when you need to refuel. The estimated fuel cost is $58, so ensure you have sufficient funds or a working card. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 195.2-mile stretch on I 75, as services can sometimes be spaced out on longer highway segments.
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 164.3 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.2 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 72 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.3 miles or 2h 55m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pickford, 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 328.7 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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 I 75 for about 195.2 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 19
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
$54.65 one way
$109.30 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$59.53
$119.06
premium
$5.18
$67.07
$134.15
diesel
$5.35
$69.23
$138.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.6
1
$34.51
$15.78
Efficient EV
82.2
0
$28.76
$13.15
EV Truck/SUV
131.5
1
$46.02
$21.04
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Pickford, MI
Afternoon
in Pickford on Wednesday
Local time
3:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
56°F
West Branch, MI
164 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
10 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 58m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 85% of the 328.7 miles on highways, meaning a significant portion of your drive will be on I 75 and US 23. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 195.2 miles on I 75. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your final destination, likely after exiting the main interstates. Given the highway focus, anticipate a relatively consistent driving experience with plenty of exits and merges.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 195.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 23. 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
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 19 significant decision points across 328.7 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
1,345 ft609 ft
Total Climb
1,148 ft
Total Descent
1,177 ft
Highest Point
1,345 ft
~211.3 mi in
Elevation Range
736 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 Pickford, MI, road signs point toward Flint, M 134: De Tour Village and Drummond Island.
Flint
28.8 mi in|~34m
M 134: De Tour Village
304.2 mi in|~5h 18m
Drummond Island
304.2 mi in|~5h 18m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 328.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 195.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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 Pickford, 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 28 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pickford, MI before the return drive.
