Troy, MI to Washington, MI is 220.6 miles and takes about 4h 39m via I 75 and US 10, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Michigan. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way. With a recommended duration of one day, this route is ideal for a quick getaway or an efficient transfer between these two Michigan locations.
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
110.3 miles from Troy, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
80 mi
1h 25m
East Washington
59.9 mi
1h 18m
US 10
46.1 mi
46m
South M 37
5.4 mi
7m
West 13 Mile Road
5.1 mi
12m
Cleveland Drive West
3.6 mi
8m
Tienken Road
3.5 mi
6m
25 Mile Road
3.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 80 mi, about 1h 25m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 29 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,726 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,720
Quietest
2 AM
~137 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.9×
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 Troy, MI and Washington, 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
46 mi·46 min·US 10
Toward US 10 EAST: Midland, Bay City
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 140AToward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw
15
Merge onto I 75; US 23
36 mi·38 min·I 75; US 23
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi·11 min·I 75; US 23
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
33 mi·35 min·I 75
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 81Toward I 75 Business, M 24: Pontiac, LapeerUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on I 75 BL
0.2 mi·27 sec·I 75 BL
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 BL
0.6 mi·57 sec·I 75 BL
Toward I 75 Business South: Pontiac
21
Turn left
88 ft·3 sec
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left
154 ft·7 sec
23
Continue on Shimmons Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Shimmons Road
24
At end of road, turn left onto Shimmons Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Shimmons Road
25
At end of road, turn left onto North Squirrel Road
0.3 mi·37 sec·North Squirrel Road
26
Turn right onto Tienken Road
3.5 mi·6 min·Tienken Road
Use the right lane.
27
Enter roundabout onto West Tienken Road
128 ft·3 sec·West Tienken Road
28
Continue on West Tienken Road
1.6 mi·3 min·West Tienken Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Enter roundabout onto East Tienken Road
159 ft·5 sec·East Tienken Road
30
Continue on East Tienken Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Tienken Road
31
Enter roundabout onto Runyon Road
150 ft·3 sec·Runyon Road
32
Continue on Runyon Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Runyon Road
33
Continue on 25 Mile Road
3.1 mi·5 min·25 Mile Road
34
Turn left onto Van Dyke Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Van Dyke Avenue
35
Continue on Van Dyke Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Van Dyke Road
36
Turn left onto West Road
36 ft·1 sec·West Road
37
Arrive at destination
West Road
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 39-minute drive, leaving Troy, MI in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. You'll have just one suggested stop on this 220.6-mile route, so plan that break strategically. Given the relatively short duration and modest fuel cost of $34, this trip offers a lot of flexibility; you could easily depart later in the day if needed. Keep an eye out for the transition from the interstate to surface roads around the point where East Washington and US 10 become your main thoroughfares, as this will require a change in driving pace.
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 110.3 miles from Troy, MI, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 49 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.3 miles or 2h 28m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington, 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 220.6 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 I 75 for about 80 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 80 and 209.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
6
126.1 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 140A
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw
8
206.4 mi into trip|~4h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 75 Business, M 24: Pontiac, Lapeer
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 81
Toward I 75 Business, M 24: Pontiac, Lapeer
5
207.2 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|I 75 BL
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 BL toward I 75 Business South: Pontiac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75 Business South: Pontiac
6
209.2 mi into trip|~4h 18m in|Tienken Road
Turn right onto Tienken Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.68 one way
$73.35 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$39.95
$79.90
premium
$5.18
$45.01
$90.03
diesel
$5.35
$46.46
$92.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.2
0
$23.16
$10.59
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.30
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.88
$14.12
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Troy, MI
Afternoon
in Troy on Wednesday
Local time
4:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
NE 2 to 8 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:06AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 3:45AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Destination
Washington, MI
Afternoon
in Washington on Wednesday
Local time
4:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
NE 1 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:06AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 3:45AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
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
6 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 39m 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?
About 58% of this 220.6-mile drive is on highways, with the longest stretch of uninterrupted highway cruising being 80 miles on I 75. You'll transition from I 75 onto East Washington and then US 10, which will feel like a significant shift from faster highway speeds to more typical surface street driving. Expect a mixed feel, with periods of quicker travel on the interstate followed by more frequent exits and slower speeds on the surface roads.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 80 miles in near US 10.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 220.6 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 80 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 206.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,107 ft606 ft
Total Climb
831 ft
Total Descent
953 ft
Highest Point
1,107 ft
~31.5 mi in
Elevation Range
501 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Troy, MI and Washington, MI, road signs point toward Bay City, M 24: Pontiac and Lapeer.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 220.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 Washington, 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. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 80 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 206.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Washington, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
