Origin
Plymouth, MI
Late night in Plymouth on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plymouth, MI to Lansing, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
70.8 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MI
Ajdin Coric
Trip Overview
Plymouth, MI to Lansing, MI is 70.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via I 96, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Michigan. It's a straightforward drive primarily on the interstate, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. Given its short duration, it's well-suited for a same-day excursion, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 53.2 mi | 56m |
| Beck Road | 8 mi | 14m |
| Ransom E Olds Freeway | 5.3 mi | 5m |
| North Territorial Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Ann Arbor Trail | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Sheldon Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Allegan Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 53.2 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MI and Lansing, MI.
1
Start on Penniman Avenue
402 ft
·
16 sec
·
Penniman Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
364 ft
·
17 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto West Ann Arbor Trail
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ann Arbor Trail
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto South Sheldon Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Sheldon Road
5
Turn left onto North Territorial Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Territorial Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Beck Road
8.0 mi
·
14 min
·
Beck Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 96 West
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 96
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
39 mi
·
41 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
11
Merge onto I 496; US 127
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Ransom E Olds Freeway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 496
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Ransom E Olds Freeway
Toward I 496 West: Downtown Lansing
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 6
Toward Downtown
14
Turn right onto South Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Walnut Street
15
Turn right onto West Allegan Street
412 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Allegan Street
16
Turn right onto Townsend Street
22 ft
·
1 sec
·
Townsend Street
17
Arrive at destination
Townsend Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.4 miles from Plymouth, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 64 — 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
|
South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Ann Arbor Trail
Turn right onto West Ann Arbor Trail
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Beck Road
Turn right onto Beck Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
25.1 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
64 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.07 one way
$22.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.15 | $24.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.62 | $27.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.63 | $31.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.43 | $3.40 |
| Efficient EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.19 | $2.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.91 | $4.53 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Lansing, MI
Late night in Lansing on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Brighton, MI
35 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
1 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 26m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 83% of the 70.8 miles on I 96. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 53.2 miles on I 96 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a steady cruising pace for the majority of your travel time. You'll notice the typical density of exits and merging traffic common on major interstates.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.2 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Beck Road. 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 South Main Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (West Ann Arbor Trail): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (Beck Road): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Plymouth, MI
Full guide →Plymouth is the name of two administrative entities in Wayne County in the state of Michigan. One is a small city, and the other is a township that surrounds the city and has its own government.
Arriving in Lansing, MI
Full guide →Lansing is a pleasant city, and as Michigan's state capital, it is home to many government offices. Downtown Lansing has a historic shopping district amidst the campus of Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 70.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.2 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Lansing, 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 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (West Ann Arbor Trail): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (Beck Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lansing, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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