Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
43.5 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Royal Oak, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Hartland, MI
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a trip from Royal Oak to Hartland, expect a straightforward 43.5-mile journey that typically takes about 53 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $7 for fuel will cover your transit costs, making this an economical trip within Michigan's Midwest region. Because the drive is relatively short and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule. You can easily complete the trip in under an hour, allowing you to maximize your time once you reach your destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 16.1 mi | 17m |
| I 96 | 15.3 mi | 16m |
| US 23 | 7 mi | 7m |
| Old US-23 | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Crouse Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West 10 Mile Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Highland Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Royal Oak, MI and Hartland, MI.
Start on this road
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
Turn right onto South Main Street
Turn right onto West 10 Mile Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 696
Merge onto I 96
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 23
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto M 59
Turn right onto Old US-23
Turn right onto Crouse Road
Turn left onto Washington Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Royal Oak, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.1 and 41.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward M 59: Howell, Pontiac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward M 59 West: Howell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto M 59 / Highland Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.80 one way
$13.60 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.47 | $14.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.60 | $19.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Royal Oak on Sunday
Local time
3:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Hartland on Sunday
Local time
3:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a sequence of high-speed roads, starting with the Walter P Reuther Freeway, which features your longest uninterrupted stretch of 16.1 miles. From there, the route transitions onto I-96 and US-23 to reach your final destination. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a slow, scenic cruise. Behind the wheel, you will find the drive feels like a standard interstate commute, prioritizing speed and efficiency over secondary roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P Reuther Freeway and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.1 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 43.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Royal Oak, MI and Hartland, MI, road signs point toward Flint, M 59: Howell, Pontiac and M 59 West: Howell.
Flint
M 59: Howell
Pontiac
M 59 West: Howell
Royal Oak is a suburb of Detroit in Oakland County, Michigan known for its trendy downtown shopping area and bars. 1 mile South of Royal Oak is Ferndale, a place very similar to Royal Oak, known for its large lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender population. North of Royal Oak is Birmingham, an opulent area known for its upscale boutiques.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 43.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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