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Trip from Potterville, MI to Macomb, MI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 14m

Distance

102.7 mi

165 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 5m ★
6 AM
2h 15m
8 AM
2h 34m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 20m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 33m
8 PM
2h 9m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Potterville, MI, MI

Potterville, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

This 102.7-mile drive from Potterville, MI, to Macomb, MI, is a straightforward 2-hour and 14-minute journey, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. Your estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest excursion is around $16, so you can plan your budget accordingly. The route primarily utilizes major highways, offering a focused driving experience. With no specific stops recommended in the data, this trip prioritizes efficient travel between your origin and destination. You'll find it to be a practical and uncomplicated way to cover the distance.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

51.3 miles from Potterville, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 35.2 mi 37m
I 96 BL 34.6 mi 50m
West Huron Street 18.2 mi 25m
I 69 3.2 mi 3m
23 Mile Road 2.8 mi 4m
Christopher Columbus Freeway 2.4 mi 2m
Garfield Road 2 mi 2m
Lansing Road 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 35.2 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Potterville, MI and Macomb, MI.

1

Start on M 100

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Potterville Street
2

Continue on M 100

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Hartel Road
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec
4

Merge onto I 69

3.2 mi · 3 min · I 69
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward Lansing Road
6

Keep slight left at fork

520 ft · 13 sec
Toward Lansing Road
7

Turn right onto Lansing Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · Lansing Road
8

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward I-96 EAST: Detroit
9

Merge onto I 96

35 mi · 37 min · I 96
10

Take the exit onto I 96 BL; M 59

35 mi · 50 min · I 96 BL; M 59
Exit 133 Toward I 96 Business, M 59: Howell, Pontiac Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Continue on M 59

18 mi · 25 min · West Huron Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward M 53 North: Imlay City Use the left lane.
13

Merge onto M 53

2.4 mi · 2 min · Christopher Columbus Freeway
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Exit 20A Toward 23 Mile Road East Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn right onto 23 Mile Road

2.8 mi · 4 min · 23 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
16

Turn left onto Garfield Road

2.0 mi · 2 min · Garfield Road
Use the straight lane.
17

Enter roundabout

181 ft · 4 sec
18

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour and 14-minute duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach your destination. With no designated stops, you have the flexibility to pull over for breaks as needed; just keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch is over 35 miles. Plan for your fuel stop before you get too far into that longer segment on I 96 to ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.

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 51.3 miles from Potterville, MI, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 23 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 51.3 miles or 1h 1m 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 48m

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 Potterville, 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 Potterville, MI

This is one driving day of about 102.7 miles and 2h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Potterville, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 35.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Waterford, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waterford, MI

51 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

Haslett, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Clyde, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.3 miles from Potterville, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Cafe Immortelle

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Troy, Michigan

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 19min to go 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12482509858

Visit website

Best coffee break · early in the drive

Good Deeds Coffee Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fowlerville, Michigan

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch · 48min in 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+15172199046

Visit website

Coffee Barrel

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Holt, Michigan

2 mi

Black Iron Coffee Roasters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Howell, Michigan

2 mi

Cafe Immortelle

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Troy, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12482509858

Visit website

Good Deeds Coffee Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Fowlerville, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+15172199046

Visit website

Coffee Barrel

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Holt, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+15176949000

Visit website

Black Iron Coffee Roasters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Howell, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+15172958259

Visit website

517 Coffee Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Lansing, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15175745573

Visit website

Thread Creek Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Halfway reset 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10

Howell, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18107469302

Visit website

Blue Owl Coffee East Lansing

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

East Lansing, Michigan

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

+15176796959

Visit website

Taste Coffee Company

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10

Mason, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15172200447

Visit website

Coffee First Cafe & Bake Shoppe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10

Sterling Heights, Michigan

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15868385353

Visit website

LegaSea Aquarium & The Reptarium

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Utica, Michigan

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+15868846941

Visit website

Harris Nature Center

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Okemos, Michigan

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

+15173493866

Visit website

Ford Field Central Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Shelby Township, Michigan

+15867310300

Visit website

Troy Historic Village

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Troy, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12485243570

Visit website

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

East Lansing, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15178844800

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 100.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
4.7 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Lansing Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Lansing Road
8
42 mi into trip | ~47m in | I 96 BL; M 59

Take the exit onto I 96 BL; M 59 toward I 96 Business, M 59: Howell, Pontiac

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 133 Toward I 96 Business, M 59: Howell, Pontiac
6
94.7 mi into trip | ~2h 3m in

Take the exit toward M 53 North: Imlay City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward M 53 North: Imlay City
7
97.5 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in

Take the exit toward 23 Mile Road East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 20A Toward 23 Mile Road East
6
100.6 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in | Garfield Road

Turn left onto Garfield Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.06 one way

$32.11 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.63 $35.26
premium $4.89 $19.76 $39.53
diesel $5.61 $22.67 $45.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.8 0 $10.78 $4.93
Efficient EV 25.7 0 $8.99 $4.11
EV Truck/SUV 41.1 0 $14.38 $6.57

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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 20, 2026

Origin

Potterville, MI

Late night in Potterville on Tuesday

Local time

4:08 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Macomb, MI

Late night in Macomb on Tuesday

Local time

4:08 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°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

1 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

2h 14m 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 highway-focused drive, with 73% of the journey on interstates and main roads like I 96 and I 96 BL. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 35.2 miles on I 96, providing ample opportunity for steady cruising. While the profile suggests a predominantly highway experience, be aware that segments like West Huron Street might offer a change of pace. This route is designed for consistent forward motion, minimizing complex navigation and maximizing your time on the road.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on I 96.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and I 96 BL. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 102.7 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 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 42 miles (I 96 BL; M 59): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Potterville, MI and Macomb, MI, road signs point toward M 59: Howell, Pontiac, M 53 North: Imlay City and 23 Mile Road East.

M 59: Howell

42 mi in | ~47m | via I 96 BL; M 59

Pontiac

42 mi in | ~47m | via I 96 BL; M 59

M 53 North: Imlay City

94.7 mi in | ~2h 3m

23 Mile Road East

97.5 mi in | ~2h 6m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 102.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.2 miles on I 96. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 42 miles (I 96 BL; M 59): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.7 miles: 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 Macomb, 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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