If you are planning a getaway from Troy to Boyne City, expect a straightforward journey covering 144 miles. You should allocate about 3 hours and 17 minutes of drive time, making this a very feasible one-day trip. Budget roughly $22 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Michigan destinations. Because the route is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. The trip moves entirely within the Midwest, keeping you firmly in the familiar landscape of the state. It is a practical, efficient route for travelers looking to get from the suburbs to the northern part of the state without an overly taxing schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72 miles from Troy, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 131
64.4 mi
1h 12m
South US 131 Highway
19.7 mi
26m
East Washington
16.5 mi
22m
US 131 Northwest
8.7 mi
11m
South M 37
5.4 mi
7m
West 13 Mile Road
5.1 mi
12m
Mill Street
4.3 mi
5m
US 131 South
4.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 131
— 64.4 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Troy, MI and Boyne City, MI.
1
Start on North Dickinson Avenue
133 ft·9 sec·North Dickinson Avenue
2
Turn left onto West 13 Mile Road
5.1 mi·12 min·West 13 Mile Road
3
Continue on Cleveland Drive West
3.6 mi·8 min·Cleveland Drive West
4
Continue on West Main Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·West Main Street
5
Turn left onto North Bingham Avenue
1.6 mi·3 min·North Bingham Avenue
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
7
Continue on West 15 Mile Road
0.4 mi·1 min·West 15 Mile Road
8
Turn left onto M 37
3.0 mi·4 min·North Woodbridge Avenue
9
Continue on M 37
5.2 mi·7 min·South M 37
10
Continue on M 37
0.6 mi·1 min·Michigan Avenue
11
Continue on M 37
0.3 mi·39 sec·South M 37
12
Turn right onto US 10
17 mi·22 min·East Washington
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 131 North
14
Merge onto US 131
51 mi·54 min·US 131
15
Enter roundabout onto US 131
91 ft·5 sec·US 131
16
Continue on US 131
13 mi·18 min·US 131
17
Continue on US 131; M 72; M 66
2.2 mi·3 min·South Cedar Street
18
Continue on US 131; M 66
8.7 mi·11 min·US 131 Northwest
19
Continue on US 131; M 66
2.5 mi·3 min·South US 131 Highway
20
Continue on US 131; M 66
0.6 mi·1 min·South Front Street
21
Continue on US 131; M 66
1.3 mi·2 min·South Williams Street
22
Continue on US 131; M 66
17 mi·23 min·South US 131 Highway
23
Continue on US 131
4.2 mi·5 min·US 131 South
24
Turn left onto M 75
4.3 mi·5 min·Mill Street
25
Continue on M 75
1.4 mi·2 min·Boyne Avenue
26
Turn right onto M 75
0.2 mi·22 sec·South East Street
27
Turn left onto C-56
0.1 mi·15 sec·State Street
28
Turn right
207 ft·15 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 144-mile journey, try to time your departure to avoid heavy traffic patterns common on major Michigan highways. Since the route only requires one stop, plan to stretch your legs once the drive feels long; the 64.4-mile stretch on US 131 is a good window to evaluate your fuel level and energy. Keep your $22 fuel budget in mind, but remember to fill up before hitting the longer highway segments to avoid premium prices at smaller stations. The flexibility of this short drive means you can easily adjust your departure time based on your personal preferences. Always double-check your route map as you transition from US 131 onto East Washington to ensure a smooth arrival in Boyne City.
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 72 miles from Troy, MI, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.4 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 32 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72 miles or 1h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boyne City, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Troy, 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 Troy, MI
This is one driving day of about 144 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Troy, 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 US 131 for about 64.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 144 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West 13 Mile Road
Turn left onto West 13 Mile Road
Navigation decision point
4
8.9 mi into trip|~21m in|North Bingham Avenue
Turn left onto North Bingham Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
36.6 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 131 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 131 North
5
143.9 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|C-56 / State Street
Turn left onto C-56 / State Street
Navigation decision point
5
144 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.51 one way
$45.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.72
$49.44
premium
$4.89
$27.71
$55.42
diesel
$5.61
$31.79
$63.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.2
0
$15.12
$6.91
Efficient EV
36
0
$12.60
$5.76
EV Truck/SUV
57.6
0
$20.16
$9.22
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 20, 2026
Origin
Troy, MI
Late night
in Troy on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Boyne City, MI
Late night
in Boyne City on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Walton, MI
72 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.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 17m 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 primarily highway-focused, with about 67% of your time spent on high-speed roads like US 131. You will find yourself navigating long stretches of pavement, including a significant 64.4-mile uninterrupted segment on US 131. The route transitions from suburban transit into more open highway driving as you head north. Because the path relies heavily on major thoroughfares, the pace remains consistent rather than technical. Expect a steady, predictable experience behind the wheel that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently rather than winding through backroads.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.4 mi on US 131.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 131 and South US 131 Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 13 Mile Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 17m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 13 Mile Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (North Bingham Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The longest stretch is about 64.4 miles on US 131. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 13 Mile Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (North Bingham Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Boyne City, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
