Shields, MI to Clinton Township, MI is 100.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 57 minutes via I 75 and M 59, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive with a significant portion on the interstate, making it a practical option for getting between these two points efficiently. Given its duration and highway profile, it's well-suited for a single-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.2 miles from Shields, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
71 mi
1h 16m
M 59
16 mi
20m
Gratiot Road
2.9 mi
3m
East Holland Avenue
2 mi
2m
Rust Avenue Bridge
1.6 mi
2m
Cass Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Gratiot Avenue
1.2 mi
1m
Romeo Plank Road
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 71 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shields, MI and Clinton Township, MI.
1
Start on this road
114 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto M 46
2.9 mi·3 min·Gratiot Road
3
Continue on M 46
1.2 mi·1 min·Gratiot Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto M 46
0.4 mi·31 sec·Stephens Street
5
Continue on M 46
464 ft·6 sec·Rust Street
6
Continue on M 46
1.6 mi·2 min·Rust Avenue Bridge
7
Continue on M 46
0.3 mi·23 sec·South Warren Avenue
8
Turn right onto M 46
2.0 mi·2 min·East Holland Avenue
Use the right lane.
9
Enter roundabout
238 ft·13 sec
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
10
Continue
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
11
Merge onto I 75; US 23
23 mi·24 min·I 75; US 23
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi·11 min·I 75; US 23
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
37 mi·39 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 77AToward M 59 East: UticaUse the right lane.
15
Merge onto M 59
16 mi·20 min·M 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Romeo Plank Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Romeo Plank Road
Use the right lane.
17
Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road
112 ft·2 sec·Romeo Plank Road
18
Continue on Romeo Plank Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Romeo Plank Road
19
Enter roundabout onto Cass Avenue
123 ft·2 sec·Cass Avenue
20
Continue on Cass Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Cass Avenue
21
Turn right onto Moravian Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Moravian Drive
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto White Oaks Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·White Oaks Drive
23
Turn right onto Red Oaks Drive
289 ft·12 sec·Red Oaks Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Red Oaks Drive
Trip Plan
Plan to leave Shields, MI early to take advantage of lighter traffic on I 75. Since this trip is under two hours and covers 100.4 miles, you have flexibility with your departure time. There are no designated stops on this route, so you can decide if and when you'd like to pull over. The fuel cost is estimated at $16, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you begin. Pay attention as you transition from I 75 to M 59, as this is a key junction on your way to Clinton Township.
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 50.2 miles from Shields, MI, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71 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 22 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.2 miles or 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 1h 31m
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 Shields, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Shields, MI
This is one driving day of about 100.4 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Shields, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 71 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 8.6 and 98.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.6 mi into trip|~10m in
Enter roundabout toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
6
43.1 mi into trip|~48m 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
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 27m 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
96.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|Romeo Plank Road
Turn right onto Romeo Plank Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
98.9 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|Moravian Drive
Turn right onto Moravian Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.70 one way
$31.39 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.23
$34.47
premium
$4.89
$19.32
$38.64
diesel
$5.61
$22.17
$44.33
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: 35.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
33 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Swartz Creek, MI
Tesla
10 DCFC
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Auburn Hills, MI
Tesla
8 DCFC
Saginaw, MI
Saginaw, MI
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE
6 DCFC
Simon Property Group Great Lakes Crossing (Auburn Hills, MI)
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.79
$4.02
EV Truck/SUV
40.2
0
$14.06
$6.43
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Shields, MI
Late night
in Shields on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clinton Township, MI
Late night
in Clinton Township on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
4 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
1h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 71% of the route on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 71 miles on I 75 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to see a high density of exits and merging traffic as you navigate the interstate system for the majority of your travel time. The final portion will involve more local road driving.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71 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 8.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 100.4 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 8.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.9 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.
On the drive from Shields, MI to Clinton Township, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 59 East: Utica along the way.
M 59 East: Utica
79.9 mi in|~1h 27m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 100.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71 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 Clinton Township, 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 8.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.9 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 Clinton Township, MI before heading back.
