North Branch to Livonia is 73.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via South Lapeer Road and South Telegraph Road, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, making it a good option for a straightforward, single-day excursion. The route is relatively short, offering flexibility for departure times and potential for brief stops along the way without significantly extending the travel time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.6 miles from North Branch, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Lapeer Road
24.6 mi
36m
South Telegraph Road
15.2 mi
24m
North Lapeer Road
10.8 mi
16m
North Branch Road
5.8 mi
8m
Jeffries Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
I 75
2.8 mi
3m
North Main Street
2.1 mi
4m
I 75 BL
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
South Lapeer Road
— 24.6 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Branch, MI and Livonia, MI.
1
Start on M 90
0.3 mi·25 sec·Huron Street
2
Continue on M 90
5.8 mi·8 min·North Branch Road
3
Turn left onto M 24
11 mi·16 min·North Lapeer Road
4
Continue on M 24
2.1 mi·4 min·North Main Street
5
Continue on M 24
15 mi·20 min·South Lapeer Road
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on M 24
1.0 mi·2 min·North Washington Street
7
Continue on M 24
9.7 mi·15 min·South Lapeer Road
Use the right lane.
8
Turn slight left onto North Opdyke Road
1.4 mi·2 min·North Opdyke Road
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9
Turn sharp left onto University Drive
0.2 mi·23 sec·University Drive
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·20 sec
Toward I 75 South: DetroitUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 75
2.8 mi·3 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto BL I 75
0.6 mi·41 sec·BL I 75
Exit 75Toward I 75 BusinessUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 75 BL
1.5 mi·2 min·I 75 BL
14
Continue on US 24 BUS
1.3 mi·2 min·West Square Lake Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Merge onto US 24
0.1 mi·10 sec·South Telegraph Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
138 ft·13 sec
17
Turn sharp left onto US 24
15 mi·24 min·South Telegraph Road
Use the left lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto Telegraph Drive
0.3 mi·32 sec·Telegraph Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Schoolcraft Road
323 ft·7 sec·Schoolcraft Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 96 West
21
Merge onto I 96
3.2 mi·3 min·Jeffries Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 175Toward Merriman RoadUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn straight onto Schoolcraft Road
502 ft·18 sec·Schoolcraft Road
24
Turn left onto Merriman Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Merriman Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Turn right
98 ft·9 sec
26
Turn right
31 ft·2 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 52-minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you can leave whenever it suits your schedule. There are no designated stops in the data, but with a fuel cost around $11, it's economical to keep going. The longest stretch is 24.6 miles on South Lapeer Road, so plan for that segment to be continuous. Since it's a shorter drive, you have the flexibility to depart later in the morning or early afternoon. Keep an eye out for the transition onto South Telegraph Road, as this is a significant surface road segment for much of the trip.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.6 miles from North Branch, MI, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.6 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 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 1h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livonia, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Branch, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Branch, MI
This is one driving day of about 73.2 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from North Branch, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Lapeer Road for about 24.6 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 45.9 and 71.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
45.9 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|University Drive
Turn sharp left onto University Drive
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
46.1 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Detroit
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
7
49.2 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|BL I 75
Take the exit onto BL I 75 toward I 75 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 75
Toward I 75 Business
7
52.8 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|US 24 / South Telegraph Road
Turn sharp left onto US 24 / South Telegraph Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Merriman Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 175
Toward Merriman Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.44 one way
$22.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.57
$25.13
premium
$4.89
$14.09
$28.17
diesel
$5.61
$16.16
$32.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.51
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.41
$2.93
EV Truck/SUV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 21, 2026
Origin
North Branch, MI
Morning
in North Branch on Tuesday
Local time
6:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Livonia, MI
Morning
in Livonia on Tuesday
Local time
6:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live 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.
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
15 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
1h 52m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with only about 11% of the total distance on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 24.6 miles on South Lapeer Road. The transition from any highway segments to surface roads will likely involve encountering more frequent intersections and potentially denser local traffic as you get closer to populated areas. Expect to navigate through various local communities rather than extended periods of high-speed cruising.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.6 mi on South Lapeer Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45.9 miles in near University Drive.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 45.9 miles (University Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 49.2 miles (BL I 75): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 73.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.6 miles on South Lapeer Road. 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 Livonia, 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 45.9 miles (University Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 49.2 miles (BL I 75): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Livonia, MI before heading back.
