If you are planning a trip from Troy to Freeland, expect a journey covering 121.9 miles that takes approximately 2 hours and 41 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, it is best suited as a comfortable one-day excursion. You should budget about $18 for fuel to complete the trip. Navigating through the Midwest, you will transition from the suburban feel of Troy to the more rural landscape of Freeland. Since the drive is under three hours, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. It is a straightforward route that prioritizes local roads over major highways.
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
61 miles from Troy, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Washington
59.9 mi
1h 18m
US 10
36.5 mi
36m
South M 37
5.4 mi
7m
West 13 Mile Road
5.1 mi
12m
M 47
5 mi
5m
Cleveland Drive West
3.6 mi
8m
North Woodbridge Avenue
3 mi
4m
North Bingham Avenue
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
East Washington
— 59.9 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Troy, MI and Freeland, 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
60 mi·1 hr 18 min·East Washington
13
Take the exit onto US 10
36 mi·36 min·US 10
Toward US 10 EAST: Midland, Bay City
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Freeland, Saginaw, M 47
15
Merge onto M 47
5.0 mi·5 min·M 47
16
Turn left onto East Washington Road
68 ft·1 sec·East Washington Road
17
Arrive at destination
East Washington Road
Trip Plan
Since your journey involves a series of local roads, plan to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on residential and main street arteries. You only need to build in one primary stop to break up the 2-hour and 41-minute duration, allowing for a quick refresh before reaching Freeland. Keep a close eye on your navigation system, as the lack of long highway stretches means you will be making regular turns throughout the entire 121.9 miles. Because fuel costs are estimated at a modest $18, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your itinerary without worrying about a major impact on your travel budget. Prioritize steady driving over speed to manage the frequent transitions between local roads effectively.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61 miles from Troy, MI, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.9 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 27 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61 miles or 1h 33m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Freeland, 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 121.9 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 East Washington for about 59.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 116.4 — 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
4
10.5 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
80 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 10
Take the exit onto US 10 toward US 10 EAST: Midland, Bay City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 10 EAST: Midland, Bay City
5
116.4 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward Freeland, Saginaw, M 47
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Freeland, Saginaw, M 47
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.06 one way
$38.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.92
$41.85
premium
$4.89
$23.46
$46.92
diesel
$5.61
$26.91
$53.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.6
0
$12.80
$5.85
Efficient EV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
EV Truck/SUV
48.8
0
$17.07
$7.80
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
Troy, MI
Late night
in Troy on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Freeland, MI
Late night
in Freeland on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
17 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
2h 41m 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?
Forget the monotony of the interstate; this route is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature. With a 0% highway share, you will spend the entire 121.9 miles navigating surface streets like West 13 Mile Road, Cleveland Drive West, and West Main Street. Because there are no long highway stretches, you will need to stay alert for frequent turns and intersections. The road demands your full attention, providing a hands-on driving experience that differs significantly from high-speed travel. Expect a consistent pace as you weave through the local landscape rather than cruising on an open expressway.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.9 mi on East Washington.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 2h 41m drive. You will face about 9 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 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,168 ft620 ft
Total Climb
459 ft
Total Descent
664 ft
Highest Point
1,168 ft
~34.8 mi in
Elevation Range
548 ft
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 Troy, MI to Freeland, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Bay City along the way.
Bay City
80 mi in|~1h 58m|via US 10
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 121.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 59.9 miles on East Washington. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Freeland, MI before heading back.
