Livonia, MI to Reed City, MI is 197.3 miles and takes about 3h 41m via US 10, US 23, and the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within the Midwest, moving from one Michigan point to another. The route relies heavily on major highways, making it a quick and efficient option for getting between these two locations. Given its relatively short distance and high highway share, this is easily a single-day drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.7 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
87.8 mi
1h 39m
US 23
78.2 mi
1h 23m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
23 mi
24m
Jeffries Freeway
3.3 mi
3m
Merriman Road
1 mi
1m
East Church Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Chestnut Street
0.4 mi
<1m
East Church Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 87.8 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and Reed City, 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
38 mi·50 min·US 10
Toward US 10 WEST, TO M 115: Ludington, Cadillac
18
Turn left onto US 10 BUS
0.8 mi·1 min·East Church Street
19
Continue on US 10 BUS
0.3 mi·33 sec·East Church Avenue
20
Turn right onto US 10 BUS
0.4 mi·48 sec·South Chestnut Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 10 BUS
Trip Plan
This is a comfortable one-day drive, so you have flexibility in your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the 197.3 miles. With a fuel cost estimate of $35, it's wise to fill up before leaving Livonia. Plan for at least one brief stop to stretch your legs, perhaps around the halfway point of your longest stretch on US 10. Keep an eye out for the transition off the main highways as you get closer to Reed City.
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 98.7 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.8 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 43 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.7 miles or 1h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reed City, 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 197.3 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 10 for about 87.8 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
$32.80 one way
$65.61 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$35.73
$71.46
premium
$5.18
$40.26
$80.52
diesel
$5.35
$41.56
$83.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.2
0
$20.72
$9.47
Efficient EV
49.3
0
$17.26
$7.89
EV Truck/SUV
78.9
0
$27.62
$12.63
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Livonia, MI
Afternoon
in Livonia on Wednesday
Local time
4:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
ENE 1 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:06AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 3:45AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Destination
Reed City, MI
Afternoon
in Reed City on Wednesday
Local time
4:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
ENE 3 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:06AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 3:45AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 41m 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?
You'll spend about 86% of this 197.3-mile trip on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch of highway driving is 87.8 miles, primarily on US 10. Expect to encounter a significant number of exits and interchanges typical of a route that is predominantly highway-based. The transition to more surface-road driving will occur as you approach your destination.
86% 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: 87.8 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 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 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 197.3 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
1,110 ft598 ft
Total Climb
863 ft
Total Descent
465 ft
Highest Point
1,110 ft
~169.1 mi in
Elevation Range
512 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 Reed City, MI, road signs point toward Flint, To M 115: Ludington and Cadillac.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 197.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.8 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 Reed City, 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 14 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Reed City, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
