Macomb, MI to Laurium, MI is 550.6 miles and takes about 10 hours 46 minutes via I-75 and US-41, with a fuel budget near $86 and best split over 2 days. This long-haul drive travels between two points within the Midwest, specifically Michigan. Given its length, this route is best tackled over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward, if lengthy, trip.
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
275.3 miles from Macomb, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
260.2 mi
4h 29m
US 41
86.1 mi
1h 52m
M-28
70.9 mi
1h 23m
US-2 West
62.1 mi
1h 12m
M 77
17.3 mi
20m
County Road 480
12.5 mi
18m
US-41
8.4 mi
11m
25 Mile Road
6.9 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 260.2 mi, about 4h 29m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 43 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,882 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,736
Quietest
2 AM
~90 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.9×
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 Macomb, MI and Laurium, MI.
1
Start on this road
31 ft·0 sec·this road
2
Continue on 25 Mile Road
0.9 mi·1 min·25 Mile Road
3
Enter roundabout onto 25 Mile Road
145 ft·4 sec·25 Mile Road
4
Continue on 25 Mile Road
6.0 mi·9 min·25 Mile Road
5
Continue on Runyon Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Runyon Road
6
Enter roundabout onto East Tienken Road
186 ft·4 sec·East Tienken Road
7
Continue on East Tienken Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Tienken Road
8
Enter roundabout onto East Tienken Road
135 ft·4 sec·East Tienken Road
9
Continue on East Tienken Road
1.6 mi·3 min·East Tienken Road
Use the left lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto West Tienken Road
143 ft·3 sec·West Tienken Road
11
Continue on West Tienken Road
2.1 mi·4 min·West Tienken Road
12
Turn right onto North Adams Road
1.1 mi·1 min·North Adams Road
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto Dutton Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Dutton Road
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on Brown Road
1.3 mi·1 min·Brown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on Brown Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Brown Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn slight left
0.1 mi·33 sec
Use the left lane.
17
Turn straight onto Joslyn Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·Joslyn Road
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 75 NorthUse the right lane.
19
Merge onto I 75
27 mi·29 min·I 75
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
52 mi·56 min·I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 75; US 23
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
118 mi·2 hr 1 min·I 75
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 344BToward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
24
Merge onto US 2; I 75 BL
0.7 mi·1 min·US-2 West
25
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi·3 min·US 2
26
Continue on US 2
61 mi·1 hr 11 min·US-2 West
27
Turn right onto M 77
17 mi·20 min·M 77
28
Turn sharp left onto M 28
35 mi·41 min·M-28
29
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi·28 sec·Cedar Street
30
Enter roundabout onto M 28
194 ft·11 sec·East Munising
31
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi·4 min·East Munising
32
Continue on M 28
36 mi·42 min·M-28
33
Continue on CR 551
1.8 mi·2 min·Cherry Creek Road
Use the straight lane.
34
Turn right onto CR 480
13 mi·18 min·County Road 480
35
Continue on Rail Street
0.4 mi·36 sec·Rail Street
36
Turn right onto Division Street
503 ft·10 sec·Division Street
37
Turn right onto M 28 BUS
440 ft·12 sec·West Main Street
38
Turn left onto M 28 BUS
0.5 mi·52 sec·North Teal Lake Avenue
39
Turn left onto US 41; M 28
2.7 mi·4 min·US Highway 41
40
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
83 ft·4 sec·US 41; M 28
41
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; M 28
42
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
88 ft·5 sec·US 41; M 28
43
Continue on US 41; M 28
85 mi·1 hr 51 min·US 41; M 28
44
Turn left onto US 41
0.2 mi·34 sec·Front Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on US 41
510 ft·13 sec·Reservation Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
46
Turn left onto East White Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East White Street
47
At end of road, turn right onto US 41
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Lincoln Drive
48
Continue on US 41
8.4 mi·11 min·US-41
49
Continue on US 41
1.3 mi·2 min·County Road
50
Turn right onto Rockland Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·Rockland Street
51
Turn right onto Lake Linden Avenue
0.3 mi·36 sec·Lake Linden Avenue
52
Turn sharp left onto M 26
0.3 mi·41 sec·Hecla Street
53
Turn left onto M 26
85 ft·2 sec·3rd Street
54
Arrive at destination
M 26
Trip Plan
For this 10-hour, 46-minute drive, it's highly recommended to plan for two days. Starting early on your first day will allow you to cover a good portion of the 550.6 miles, perhaps reaching a point around the halfway mark or slightly beyond. With 3 planned stops suggested, you'll have opportunities to rest and refuel along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move onto US-41, where services might be less frequent than on I-75.
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 275.3 miles from Macomb, MI, or about 4h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 260.2 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 121 miles or 2h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 275.3 miles or 4h 57m 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 275.3 miles or 4h 57m
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 25m
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 Macomb, 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 Macomb, MI
Aim for roughly 275 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laurium, MI
Aim for roughly 275 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 121 miles from Macomb, 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 260.2 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 33
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.4 and 550.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.4 mi into trip|~13m in|East Tienken Road
Enter roundabout onto East Tienken Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
12.1 mi into trip|~20m in|North Adams Road
Turn right onto North Adams Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
18 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 75 North
6
278.5 mi into trip|~5h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 344B
Toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
6
550.3 mi into trip|~10h 46m in|M 26 / Hecla Street
Turn sharp left onto M 26 / Hecla Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$81.31 one way
$162.62 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg193 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$89.77
$179.53
premium
$4.72
$102.23
$204.46
diesel
$4.80
$103.96
$207.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$211–$321
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 192.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $58 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
165.2
2
$57.81
$26.43
Efficient EV
137.7
1
$48.18
$22.02
EV Truck/SUV
220.2
2
$77.08
$35.24
Gas CO2
193 kg
EV CO2
64 kg (67% 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Macomb, MI
Night
in Macomb on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Smoke
N 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Laurium, MI
Night
in Laurium on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Smoke
E 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
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
13 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 46m 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 550.6
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 379.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a substantial highway component, with 77% of the 550.6 miles on major roads like I-75 and US-41. You'll experience a long stretch of 260.2 miles on I-75 before transitioning to US-41 and M-28. Expect a mix of efficient highway cruising and potentially more varied surface road driving as you near your destination.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
54 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 260.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 8.4 miles in near East Tienken 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 33 significant decision points across 550.6 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 8.4 miles (East Tienken Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.1 miles (North Adams Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,589 ft580 ft
Total Climb
2,945 ft
Total Descent
2,342 ft
Highest Point
1,589 ft
~471.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,009 ft
Notable High Points
1,589 ft at ~471.9 miles+967 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Macomb, MI to Laurium, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Escanaba along the way.
The longest stretch is about 260.2 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 275 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 35 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 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.4 miles (East Tienken Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.1 miles (North Adams Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 21.6 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.
