Taylor, MI to Lodi, MI is 245.1 miles and takes about 4h 32m via I 75, US 23, and I 275, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, both starting and ending in Michigan. It's a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a good option if you want to get to your destination efficiently. You can expect a generally uncomplicated travel experience, suitable for a single-day excursion.
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
122.6 miles from Taylor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
90.1 mi
1h 30m
US 23
79.3 mi
1h 25m
I 275
29.2 mi
31m
M 72
23.6 mi
32m
I 96
6 mi
6m
Detroit Industrial Expressway
5.4 mi
5m
M-66
5.1 mi
7m
BL I 75
1.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 90.1 mi, about 1h 30m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,952 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,330
Quietest
2 AM
~89 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Taylor, MI and Lodi, MI.
1
Start on Wick Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Wick Road
2
Turn right onto South Beech Daly Road
1.0 mi·1 min·South Beech Daly Road
3
Turn left onto Ecorse Road
0.5 mi·49 sec·Ecorse Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
5
Merge onto I 94
5.4 mi·5 min·Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 194A-BToward I 275: Toledo, FlintUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 194BToward I 275 North: FlintUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 275
29 mi·31 min·I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 96
6.0 mi·6 min·I 96
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·11 sec
Exit 148A; 147; 147BToward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, FlintUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·54 sec
Exit 148BToward US 23 North: FlintUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto US 23
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·US 23
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 75; US 23
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
27 mi·27 min·I 75
15
Take the exit onto BL I 75
1.8 mi·4 min·BL I 75
Toward I 75 Business Loop, M 72: Downtown Grayling, Traverse City
16
Turn left onto M 72; M 93
24 mi·32 min·M 72; M 93
17
Turn left onto M 66
5.1 mi·7 min·M-66
18
Arrive at destination
M 66
Trip Plan
For this 4.5-hour drive, consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops. There's only one recommended stop, so you can break it up as needed or push through. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $39, and it's wise to top off before departing Taylor, MI, as it's the most substantial stretch of highway driving. Watch for dense exit patterns as you approach Lodi, MI.
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 122.6 miles from Taylor, MI, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.1 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 54 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.6 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lodi, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Taylor, 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 Taylor, MI
This is one driving day of about 245.1 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Taylor, 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 90.1 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 2 and 44.6 — 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|Ecorse Road
Turn left onto Ecorse Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
8.1 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 275: Toledo, Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 194A-B
Toward I 275: Toledo, Flint
8
8.4 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 275 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 194B
Toward I 275 North: Flint
8
44.4 mi into trip|~51m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 148A; 147; 147B
Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spe...
8
44.6 mi into trip|~51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 148B
Toward US 23 North: Flint
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.89 one way
$81.77 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$44.61
$89.22
premium
$5.25
$50.69
$101.38
diesel
$6.28
$60.56
$121.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.5
0
$25.74
$11.76
Efficient EV
61.3
0
$21.45
$9.80
EV Truck/SUV
98
1
$34.31
$15.69
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Taylor, MI
Night
in Taylor on Thursday
Local time
9:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lodi, MI
Night
in Lodi on Thursday
Local time
9:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
W 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
2 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
4h 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 86% of the drive on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 90.1 miles on I 75 before transitioning to other highways and eventually surface roads. Expect a significant amount of highway cruising, likely with numerous exits and entrances as you navigate through populated areas.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near Ecorse Road.
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 15 significant decision points across 245.1 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 2 miles (Ecorse Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,272 ft600 ft
Total Climb
1,057 ft
Total Descent
538 ft
Highest Point
1,272 ft
~210.1 mi in
Elevation Range
672 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Taylor, MI and Lodi, MI, road signs point toward Flint, M 72: Downtown Grayling and Traverse City.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 245.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.1 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 Lodi, 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 2 miles (Ecorse Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Lodi, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
