Origin
Norton Shores, MI
Late night in Norton Shores on Sunday
Local time
5:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norton Shores, MI to Macomb, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 47m
Distance
198.3 mi
319 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 35m
★
6 AM
3h 48m
8 AM
4h 13m
10 AM
3h 56m
12 PM
3h 54m
3 PM
3h 58m
5 PM
4h 12m
8 PM
3h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norton Shores, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from Norton Shores, MI, to Macomb, MI? This drive covers 198.3 miles and will take you about 3 hours and 47 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, with 89% of the route on major interstates like I-96, I-69, and I-75. Given its duration, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day adventure, so no need to budget for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost for this leg is around $31. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region, staying within Michigan for the entire journey.
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
99.1 miles from Norton Shores, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 88.9 mi | 1h 35m |
| I 69 | 51.5 mi | 52m |
| I 75 | 34.7 mi | 37m |
| 25 Mile Road | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| Tienken Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| West Tienken Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Shimmons Road | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Randall Road | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 88.9 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norton Shores, MI and Macomb, MI.
1
Start on Henry Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Henry Street
2
Turn right onto Randall Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Randall Road
3
Turn left onto Wellesley Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Wellesley Drive
4
Continue on Airport Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Road
5
Turn left onto Grand Haven Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Grand Haven Road
6
Take the ramp onto Grand Haven Road
195 ft
·
5 sec
·
Grand Haven Road
7
Turn sharp right onto US 31 BUS
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 31 BUS
8
Continue on I 96
89 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
2.5 mi
·
2 min
Exit 89
Toward I 69 East: Flint
10
Merge onto I 69
52 mi
·
52 min
·
I 69
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
13
Merge onto I 75; US 23
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 75; US 23
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 75
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 81
Toward I 75 Business, M 24: Pontiac, Lapeer
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on I 75 BL
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 75 BL
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 BL
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
I 75 BL
Toward I 75 Business South: Pontiac
18
Turn left
88 ft
·
3 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left
154 ft
·
7 sec
20
Continue on Shimmons Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Shimmons Road
21
At end of road, turn left onto Shimmons Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Shimmons Road
22
At end of road, turn left onto North Squirrel Road
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Squirrel Road
23
Turn right onto Tienken Road
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Tienken Road
Use the right lane.
24
Enter roundabout onto West Tienken Road
128 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Tienken Road
25
Continue on West Tienken Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West Tienken Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Enter roundabout onto East Tienken Road
159 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Tienken Road
27
Continue on East Tienken Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Tienken Road
28
Enter roundabout onto Runyon Road
150 ft
·
3 sec
·
Runyon Road
29
Continue on Runyon Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Runyon Road
30
Continue on 25 Mile Road
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
25 Mile Road
31
Enter roundabout onto 25 Mile Road
150 ft
·
4 sec
·
25 Mile Road
32
Continue on 25 Mile Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
25 Mile Road
33
Enter roundabout
270 ft
·
7 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 47-minute drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Detroit metropolitan area near Macomb. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. Consider your longest stretch of 88.9 miles on I-96 as a good marker for when you might want to plan your first stop. The $31 fuel cost is a reasonable budget, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially on those 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 99.1 miles from Norton Shores, MI, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.9 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 44 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.1 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Macomb, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Norton Shores, 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 Norton Shores, MI
This is one driving day of about 198.3 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Norton Shores, 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 96 for about 88.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99.1 miles from Norton Shores, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 96 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.9 miles.
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 255 decision points cluster between mile 92.5 and 184.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
92.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 69 East: Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 89
Toward I 69 East: Flint
7
146.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
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 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
6
147 mi into trip
|
~2h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
8
182 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 75 Business, M 24: Pontiac, Lapeer
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 81
Toward I 75 Business, M 24: Pontiac, Lapeer
6
184.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m in
|
Tienken Road
Turn right onto Tienken Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.00 one way
$62.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.04 | $68.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.16 | $76.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.78 | $87.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.5 | 0 | $20.82 | $9.52 |
| Efficient EV | 49.6 | 0 | $17.35 | $7.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.3 | 0 | $27.76 | $12.69 |
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.
Destination
Macomb, MI
Late night in Macomb on Sunday
Local time
5:56 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
3 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
3h 47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 198.3-mile trip. With 89% of the route utilizing major interstates, you'll experience a consistent pace for much of the journey. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 88.9 miles on I-96, offering a period of uninterrupted driving. While primarily interstate, this kind of highway-focused profile means efficient travel is the main characteristic, allowing you to cover ground quickly between Norton Shores and Macomb.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.9 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 92.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 25 significant decision points across 198.3 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 92.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 146.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Norton Shores, MI and Macomb, MI, road signs point toward Detroit, M 24: Pontiac and Lapeer.
Detroit
146.6 mi in
|
~2h 38m
M 24: Pontiac
182 mi in
|
~3h 16m
Lapeer
182 mi in
|
~3h 16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 47m. Total distance: 198.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.9 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Macomb, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 92.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 146.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Macomb, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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