Origin
Westland, MI
Late night in Westland on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Westland, MI to Pontiac, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
29.5 mi
48 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Westland, MI
fish socks
Pontiac, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Westland to Pontiac, you are looking at a manageable 29.5-mile journey that typically takes about 46 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $4, it remains a very affordable commute within the Midwest region. You will primarily utilize a mix of I-275, Middlebelt Road, and the Walter P. Reuther Freeway to reach your destination. Because the route is straightforward and short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to head out whenever it fits your plans best.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 275 | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| Middlebelt Road | 7.9 mi | 13m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Orchard Lake Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Ford Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West 12 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Huron Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Williams Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 275
— 9.6 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westland, MI and Pontiac, MI.
1
Start on M 153
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Ford Road
2
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 275 North: Flint, Lansing
3
Merge onto I 275
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
I 275
4
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 165
Toward I 696, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 696: Port Huron
6
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 696: Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 696
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 5
Toward Farmington Hills
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto Orchard Lake Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Orchard Lake Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto West 12 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 12 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto Middlebelt Road
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Middlebelt Road
Use the left lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto Middlebelt Road
93 ft
·
2 sec
·
Middlebelt Road
13
Continue on Middlebelt Road
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Middlebelt Road
14
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Orchard Lake Road
15
Turn slight left
352 ft
·
17 sec
16
Continue on Williams Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Williams Street
17
Turn right onto M 59
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Huron Street
18
Turn right onto North Perry Street
74 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Perry Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Perry Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 17.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 696, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron
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 165
Toward I 696, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron
5
12.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 696: Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 696: Port Huron
7
12.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 696: Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 696: Port Huron
7
16.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward Farmington Hills
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward Farmington Hills
6
17.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Orchard Lake Road
Turn left onto Orchard Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.61 one way
$9.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.06 | $10.13 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.68 | $11.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.51 | $13.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.10 | $1.42 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Pontiac, MI
Late night in Pontiac on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
46m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed profile that transitions between suburban local roads and faster highway segments. You will spend roughly 42% of your time on highways, giving you a balance of steady cruising and slower-paced navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 9.6-mile segment on I-275, which provides a brief period of consistent flow. Expect the character of the road to shift as you move from the initial local stretches onto the wider, multi-lane freeway system. It is a functional, pragmatic drive that prioritizes efficiency over long-distance exploration.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.6 mi on I 275.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 12.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 29.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 12.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Westland, MI and Pontiac, MI, road signs point toward Lansing, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron and Farmington Hills.
Lansing
1.9 mi in
|
~3m
M 5 East
12.1 mi in
|
~14m
M 5 North: Port Huron
12.1 mi in
|
~14m
Farmington Hills
16.9 mi in
|
~22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 29.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.6 miles on I 275. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Pontiac, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 12.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pontiac, MI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Pontiac, MI
More trips to Pontiac, MI
Explore more options from Westland, MI or browse trips ending in Pontiac, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.