Origin
Rochester Hills, MI
Late night in Rochester Hills on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rochester Hills, MI to Swartz Creek, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
50 mi
80 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester Hills, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Swartz Creek, MI
Frank Krasznavolgyi
Trip Overview
Traveling between Rochester Hills and Swartz Creek is a quick, straightforward journey spanning 50 miles across Michigan’s Midwest. You can comfortably complete this trip in about one hour, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, it is a highly economical route for commuters or weekend travelers. The path relies heavily on major infrastructure, including I-75, the Chevrolet-Buick Freeway, and M-59. Because the entire drive remains within the same region, you will experience a consistent Midwestern landscape throughout your transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 37.7 mi | 40m |
| Chevrolet-Buick Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| M 59 | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| Miller Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Hamlin Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Crooks Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Livernois Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dickson Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 37.7 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester Hills, MI and Swartz Creek, MI.
1
Start on Dickson Lane
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Dickson Lane
2
At end of road, turn right onto Downhill Lane
378 ft
·
18 sec
·
Downhill Lane
3
Turn right onto Dressler Lane
196 ft
·
14 sec
·
Dressler Lane
4
Turn left onto South Livernois Road
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Livernois Road
5
Enter roundabout onto West Hamlin Road
17 ft
·
0 sec
·
West Hamlin Road
6
Continue on West Hamlin Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Hamlin Road
7
Turn left onto Crooks Road
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Crooks Road
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward M 59 West: Pontiac
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto M 59
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
M 59
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 40B
Toward I 75 North: Flint
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 75
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 75
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 69 West: Lansing
16
Merge onto I 69
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 129
Toward Miller Road
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto Miller Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Miller Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
Miller Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25 miles from Rochester Hills, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 48.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward M 59 West: Pontiac
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward M 59 West: Pontiac
7
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 75 North: Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40B
Toward I 75 North: Flint
7
43.4 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
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 69: Lansing, Port Huron
7
43.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
7
48.2 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward Miller Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 129
Toward Miller Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.82 one way
$15.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.58 | $17.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.62 | $19.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.04 | $22.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Swartz Creek, MI
Late night in Swartz Creek on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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 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 defined by its efficiency, with 82% of your time spent on high-speed highways. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 37.7 miles on I-75. While the journey is highway-focused, the transition between these major arteries keeps the drive moving at a consistent pace. Expect a functional, no-nonsense experience behind the wheel that prioritizes speed and directness. It is a classic interstate grind designed to get you to your destination with minimal complication.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.7 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Chevrolet-Buick Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50 miles you will encounter 16 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 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Rochester Hills, MI and Swartz Creek, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron and Flint.
Port Huron
43.4 mi in
|
~50m
Flint
43.7 mi in
|
~50m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 50 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.7 miles on I 75. 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 Swartz Creek, 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 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Swartz Creek, 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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