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Trip from Livonia, MI to Swartz Creek, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 19m

Distance

68.1 mi

110 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 13m ★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Wayne County, Michigan, United States

Livonia, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Swartz Creek, MI, MI

Swartz Creek, MI

Frank Krasznavolgyi

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick trek from Livonia to Swartz Creek, you are looking at a straightforward 68.1-mile drive through the Michigan Midwest. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 19 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a stress-free day trip. You will primarily navigate via the Jeffries Freeway, the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway, and US 23. Budgeting around $10 for fuel should be sufficient to cover your transit costs for this distance. Since the entire trip is well under two hours, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated scheduling. This route offers a simple, efficient connection between these two Midwestern points.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 23 31.8 mi 34m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway 23 mi 24m
Jeffries Freeway 3.3 mi 3m
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway 3.2 mi 3m
Miller Road 1.4 mi 2m
Merriman Road 1 mi 1m
Schoolcraft Road 0.3 mi <1m
Plymouth Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 23 — 31.8 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and Swartz Creek, 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, Lansing Use 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; 147B Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 54 sec
Exit 148B Toward US 23 North: Flint Use the slight right lane.
13

Merge onto US 23

32 mi · 34 min · US 23
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
16

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 2 min
Toward I 69 West: Lansing
17

Merge onto I 69

3.2 mi · 3 min · Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
18

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 58 sec
Exit 129 Toward Miller Road Use the slight right lane.
19

Turn right onto Miller Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · Miller Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Arrive at destination

Miller Road

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brighton, MI

34 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Farmington Hills, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brighton, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 34 miles from Livonia, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 61.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
7
61.5 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the exit toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron

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 69: Lansing, Port Huron
7
61.8 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.65 one way

$21.29 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.69 $23.38
premium $4.89 $13.11 $26.21
diesel $5.61 $15.04 $30.07

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.4 0 $7.15 $3.27
Efficient EV 17 0 $5.96 $2.72
EV Truck/SUV 27.2 0 $9.53 $4.36

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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 Apr 12, 2026

Origin

Livonia, MI

Late night in Livonia on Sunday

Local time

12:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Swartz Creek, MI

Late night in Swartz Creek on Sunday

Local time

12:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 29% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 12 at 1:40PM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 12 at 1:14PM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

43°F

Brighton, MI

34 mi in

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

28 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

1h 19m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This journey features a mixed-drive profile, with highway segments accounting for 56% of your total travel time. You will spend a significant portion of the trip on US 23, which includes a longest uninterrupted stretch of 31.8 miles. The experience shifts from the busier freeway environment near Livonia to the more open stretches of the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway. It is a functional drive that balances high-speed transit with typical regional road conditions. You can expect a consistent pace throughout the 1 hour and 19 minutes, allowing you to settle into a rhythm once you clear the initial urban segments.

56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.8 mi on US 23.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 4.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.1 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,020 ft 639 ft

Total Climb

473 ft

Total Descent

322 ft

Highest Point

1,020 ft

~43.8 mi in

Elevation Range

381 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 Swartz Creek, MI, road signs point toward Lansing, Flint and Port Huron.

Lansing

4.9 mi in | ~7m

Flint

28.8 mi in | ~34m

Port Huron

61.5 mi in | ~1h 9m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 68.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 31.8 miles on US 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Swartz Creek, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Swartz Creek, MI before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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