Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Sault Ste. Marie, MI to Clinton Township, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 59m

Distance

338.6 mi

545 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 47m ★
6 AM
6h 0m
8 AM
6h 26m
10 AM
6h 9m
12 PM
6h 6m
3 PM
6h 10m
5 PM
6h 24m
8 PM
5h 52m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Michigan, United States

Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Clinton Township, MI, MI

Clinton Township, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

This 338.6-mile drive from Sault Ste. Marie, MI, to Clinton Township, MI, is designed for a single day, clocking in at just under 6 hours of driving time. Primarily utilizing I-75, the route is heavily highway-focused, making it a straightforward journey through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $53, it's an economical option for a day trip. You'll spend the majority of your time on the interstate, so pack some podcasts or audiobooks. This efficient route is perfect if you're looking to cover ground quickly between these two Michigan locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

169.3 miles from Sault Ste. Marie, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 316.4 mi 5h 25m
M 59 16 mi 20m
Cass Avenue 1.6 mi 2m
Romeo Plank Road 1.2 mi 1m
Moravian Drive 1.2 mi 2m
East Easterday Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
Bingham Avenue 0.3 mi 1m
White Oaks Drive 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 316.4 mi, about 5h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sault Ste. Marie, MI and Clinton Township, MI.

1

Start on Dawson Street

288 ft · 17 sec · Dawson Street
2

Turn left onto Bingham Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Bingham Avenue
3

Turn right onto East Easterday Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · East Easterday Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
5

Merge onto I 75

144 mi · 2 hr 27 min · I 75
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

124 mi · 2 hr 7 min · I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23

11 mi · 11 min · I 75; US 23
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

37 mi · 39 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec
Exit 77A Toward M 59 East: Utica Use the right lane.
10

Merge onto M 59

16 mi · 20 min · M 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn right onto Romeo Plank Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Romeo Plank Road
Use the right lane.
12

Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road

112 ft · 2 sec · Romeo Plank Road
13

Continue on Romeo Plank Road

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Romeo Plank Road
14

Enter roundabout onto Cass Avenue

123 ft · 2 sec · Cass Avenue
15

Continue on Cass Avenue

1.6 mi · 2 min · Cass Avenue
16

Turn right onto Moravian Drive

1.2 mi · 2 min · Moravian Drive
Use the straight lane.
17

Turn right onto White Oaks Drive

0.2 mi · 52 sec · White Oaks Drive
18

Turn right onto Red Oaks Drive

289 ft · 12 sec · Red Oaks Drive
19

Arrive at destination

Red Oaks Drive

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour and 59-minute estimated duration, starting your drive from Sault Ste. Marie early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour congestion as you near Clinton Township. While the route is manageable in one day, plan for one brief stop to stretch your legs and refuel, especially since the longest stretch on I-75 is over 300 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $53 estimated cost suggests a continuous journey with minimal detours. The final legs on M-59 and Cass Avenue will signal your approach, so be prepared for a slight shift in traffic patterns.

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 169.3 miles from Sault Ste. Marie, MI, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 316.4 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 74 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 169.3 miles or 2h 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton Township, MI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Sault Ste. Marie, 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 Sault Ste. Marie, MI

This is one driving day of about 338.6 miles and 5h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Sault Ste. Marie, 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 75 for about 316.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Skidway Lake, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Skidway Lake, MI

169 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

Cheboygan, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grayling, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 169.3 miles from Sault Ste. Marie, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 316.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Superior Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+19062597122

Visit website

Detroit Kid City - Clinton Township

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clinton Township, Michigan

1.8 mi

Boardwalk Coffee & General Store

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St Ignace, Michigan

2.9 mi

Stardust Entertainment Center

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 241.9

Saginaw, Michigan

Hours: 12–11 pm

+19897936300

Visit website

Superior Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+19062597122

Visit website

Detroit Kid City - Clinton Township

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 338.6

Clinton Township, Michigan

Visit website

Boardwalk Coffee & General Store

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 48.4

St Ignace, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+19069846018

Visit website

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 290.2

Grand Blanc, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+18104984909

Visit website

Our Town Coffee & Treats

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 145.1

Grayling, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+19892178099

Visit website

Coffee First Cafe & Bake Shoppe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 338.6

Sterling Heights, Michigan

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15868385353

Visit website

Waters End Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 120.9

Gaylord, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

Visit website

Castle Rock

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 48.4

St Ignace, Michigan

+19066438268

Visit website

Soo Locks Visitor Center

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+19062021333

Visit website

Soo Locks

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

Visit website

Soo Locks Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

Visit website

Museum of Ojibwa Culture at Old Mission Saint-Ignace

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 48.4

St Ignace, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19066439161

Visit website

Airborne Adventure Park - Saginaw, MI

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 241.9

Saginaw, Michigan

Hours: 4–8 pm

+19895960022

Visit website

Wawatam Lighthouse

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 48.4

St Ignace, Michigan

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19066438717

Visit website

Marshall M Fredericks Sculpture Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 241.9

University Center, Michigan

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+19899647125

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 334.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
6
146.2 mi into trip | ~2h 31m in | I 75

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
6
281.3 mi into trip | ~4h 50m in | I 75

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
318.1 mi into trip | ~5h 30m in

Take the exit toward M 59 East: Utica

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

Use the right lane. Exit 77A Toward M 59 East: Utica
6
334.4 mi into trip | ~5h 51m in | Romeo Plank Road

Turn right onto Romeo Plank Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.94 one way

$105.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 119 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $58.12 $116.24
premium $4.89 $65.16 $130.32
diesel $5.61 $74.76 $149.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$53

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 118.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 101.6 1 $35.55 $16.25
Efficient EV 84.7 0 $29.63 $13.54
EV Truck/SUV 135.4 1 $47.40 $21.67

Gas CO2

118 kg

EV CO2

40 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 18, 2026

Origin

Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Night in Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday

Local time

10:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

35°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clinton Township, MI

Night in Clinton Township on Saturday

Local time

10:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 14 mph 90% chance 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

32 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

5h 59m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 experience for 93% of this 338.6-mile trip, predominantly on I-75. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 316.4 miles on this main interstate, meaning extended periods of consistent speed. While I-75 forms the backbone, you'll eventually transition to M-59 and Cass Avenue as you approach your destination, introducing a slight change in pace. This route is less about winding country roads and more about efficient travel across the state.

93% 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: 316.4 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and M 59. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 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 15 significant decision points across 338.6 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 146.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 281.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Sault Ste. Marie, MI and Clinton Township, MI, road signs point toward Detroit and M 59 East: Utica.

Detroit

146.2 mi in | ~2h 31m | via I 75

M 59 East: Utica

318.1 mi in | ~5h 30m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 59m. Total distance: 338.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 316.4 miles on I 75. 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 Clinton Township, 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 146.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 281.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Clinton Township, MI before the return drive.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Clinton Township, MI

Benzonia, MI 244.2 mi · 4h 47m Troy, MI 231.3 mi · 4h 45m Fife Lake, MI 225.7 mi · 4h 19m Gaylord, MI 224.5 mi · 4h 1m

More from Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Macomb, MI 330.3 mi · 5h 56m Ann Arbor, MI 330.2 mi · 5h 45m Rochester Hills, MI 324.2 mi · 5h 40m Grand Rapids, MI 293.8 mi · 5h 16m

More trips to Clinton Township, MI

Elmwood, MI 532.2 mi Crystal Falls, MI 498.5 mi Sagola, MI 485.8 mi Harris, MI 440.4 mi Amber, MI 237.5 mi Colfax, MI 234 mi
Escape planner: Sault Ste. Marie, MI Scenic drives in MI

Explore more options from Sault Ste. Marie, MI or browse trips ending in Clinton Township, MI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.