Stambaugh to Clinton Township is 514.7 miles and takes about 9h 52m via I 75 and M 69, with a fuel budget near $80 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though it's recommended for two days. This long-haul drive stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest's varied landscapes. Given its length, most drivers will want to break this trip into two days to avoid fatigue. It's a practical route for getting across the state, connecting the Upper Peninsula to the southeastern part of Michigan.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
257.3 miles from Stambaugh, Iron River, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
266 mi
4h 35m
West Lakeshore Drive
88.4 mi
1h 44m
M 69
47.2 mi
1h 3m
US-2/US-41/M-35
45.2 mi
54m
M 59
16 mi
20m
West Adams Street
15.1 mi
17m
Superior Avenue
12.8 mi
19m
18th Road
7.9 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 266 mi, about 4h 35m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 43 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,882 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,736
Quietest
2 AM
~90 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stambaugh, Iron River, MI and Clinton Township, MI.
1
Start on Holly Street
55 ft·3 sec·Holly Street
2
Turn right onto Stambaugh Avenue
0.2 mi·44 sec·Stambaugh Avenue
3
Turn left onto Diamond Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·Diamond Street
4
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·Washington Avenue
5
Continue on North Lay Avenue
0.4 mi·55 sec·North Lay Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 2
15 mi·17 min·West Adams Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto US 2; US 141
381 ft·12 sec·North 5th Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto M 69
13 mi·19 min·Superior Avenue
9
Turn right onto M 69; M 95
6.0 mi·6 min·M 69; M 95
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto M 69
41 mi·56 min·M 69
11
Turn left onto 410
0.2 mi·21 sec·C Road
12
Turn right onto 410
3.9 mi·5 min·17th Road
13
Continue on 414
1.0 mi·1 min·G Road
14
Continue on 414
2.1 mi·2 min·18th Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto 414
0.2 mi·19 sec·I Road
16
Continue on 414
5.8 mi·7 min·18th Road
17
At end of road, turn right onto 426
0.4 mi·54 sec·County 426 M.5 Road
18
Continue on 426
0.5 mi·1 min·County Road 426 M.5 Road
19
Turn right onto US 2; US 41; M 35
0.1 mi·11 sec·US-2/US-41/M-35
20
Take the exit
187 ft·5 sec
Toward US 2 East, US 41 North, M 35 North
21
Merge onto US 2; US 41; M 35
45 mi·54 min·US-2/US-41/M-35
22
Continue on US 2
88 mi·1 hr 44 min·West Lakeshore Drive
23
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi·3 min·US 2
24
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·46 sec·US-2 West
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
26
Merge onto I 75
94 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 75
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
124 mi·2 hr 7 min·I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi·11 min·I 75; US 23
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
37 mi·39 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 77AToward M 59 East: UticaUse the right lane.
31
Merge onto M 59
16 mi·20 min·M 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Turn right onto Romeo Plank Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Romeo Plank Road
Use the right lane.
33
Enter roundabout onto Romeo Plank Road
112 ft·2 sec·Romeo Plank Road
34
Continue on Romeo Plank Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Romeo Plank Road
35
Enter roundabout onto Cass Avenue
123 ft·2 sec·Cass Avenue
36
Continue on Cass Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Cass Avenue
37
Turn right onto Moravian Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Moravian Drive
Use the straight lane.
38
Turn right onto White Oaks Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·White Oaks Drive
39
Turn right onto Red Oaks Drive
289 ft·12 sec·Red Oaks Drive
40
Arrive at destination
Red Oaks Drive
Trip Plan
With a drive time nearing 10 hours, planning for two days is wise to make the most of the trip and ensure you arrive rested. Consider departing early in the morning on day one to cover about half the distance, aiming for a stop around the halfway point. You'll have 2 planned stops along the way, so use them to stretch your legs and refuel. Watch for the transition off I 75, as this is where the pace of the drive will change significantly.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 257.3 miles from Stambaugh, Iron River, MI, or about 5h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 266 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 113 miles or 2h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 257.3 miles or 5h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 257.3 miles or 5h 18m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 41m
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 Stambaugh, Iron River, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stambaugh, Iron River, MI
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Clinton Township, MI
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 113 miles from Stambaugh, Iron River, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 266 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 28
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.2 and 494.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16.2 mi into trip|~20m in|US 2; US 141 / North 5th Street
Turn right onto US 2; US 141 / North 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
90.6 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 2 East, US 41 North, M 35 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 2 East, US 41 North, M 35 North
6
322.2 mi into trip|~6h 25m 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
457.3 mi into trip|~8h 44m 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
494.2 mi into trip|~9h 23m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$76.01 one way
$152.02 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg180 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$83.91
$167.82
premium
$4.72
$95.56
$191.13
diesel
$4.80
$97.19
$194.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 180.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
154.4
1
$54.04
$24.71
Efficient EV
128.7
1
$45.04
$20.59
EV Truck/SUV
205.9
2
$72.06
$32.94
Gas CO2
180 kg
EV CO2
60 kg (67% 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Stambaugh, Iron River, MI
Evening
in Stambaugh on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Smoke
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Clinton Township, MI
Night
in Clinton Township on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Smoke
NE 1 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
81°F
Isabella, MI
170 mi in
55°F
Edenville, MI
340 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
16 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
9h 52m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 61% of this drive is on highways, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 75. The longest continuous stretch without needing to exit is 266 miles on I 75. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads around the time you leave I 75 for routes like M 69. Expect a rural feel for much of the drive, with fewer exits and more open stretches.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 266 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 9h 52m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.2 miles in near US 2; US 141 / North 5th Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 514.7 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 16.2 miles (US 2; US 141 / North 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 90.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 322.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,633 ft590 ft
Total Climb
1,155 ft
Total Descent
2,181 ft
Highest Point
1,633 ft
Elevation Range
1,042 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stambaugh, Iron River, MI and Clinton Township, MI, road signs point toward M 35 North and Detroit.
M 35 North
90.6 mi in|~2h 4m
Detroit
322.2 mi in|~6h 25m|via I 75
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 266 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 257 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 33 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.2 miles (US 2; US 141 / North 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 90.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 322.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.9 hours each way, a round trip means 19.8 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.
