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Trip from Wyoming, MI to Ferndale, MI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 51m

Distance

146.6 mi

236 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 40m ★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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city in Kent County, Michigan, United States

Wyoming, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Ferndale, MI, MI

Ferndale, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

The drive from Wyoming, MI to Ferndale, MI covers 146.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 96, Walter P Reuther Freeway, 28th Street Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 119.9 miles on I 96. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.73 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

73.3 miles from Wyoming, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 119.9 mi 2h 8m
Walter P Reuther Freeway 8.9 mi 10m
28th Street Southwest 8.5 mi 15m
West 9 Mile Road 4.5 mi 10m
John C Lodge Freeway 3.8 mi 4m
Northwestern Highway 0.3 mi <1m
Burlingame Avenue Southwest <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 119.9 mi, about 2h 8m

Traffic on I-96

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 70 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,309 veh/hr typical · worst 2,952

Quietest

2 AM

~152 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

15.2×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Wyoming, MI and Ferndale, MI.

1

Start on Burlingame Avenue Southwest

56 ft · 5 sec · Burlingame Avenue Southwest
2

Turn right onto M 11

8.5 mi · 15 min · 28th Street Southwest
3

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 96 East: Lansing
4

Merge onto I 96

53 mi · 56 min · I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96

67 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 96
Toward I 96 East: Detroit Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on I 696

8.9 mi · 10 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port Huron Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto M 10

3.8 mi · 4 min · John C Lodge Freeway
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 14B Toward 9 Mile Road Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn straight onto Northwestern Highway

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Northwestern Highway
10

Turn left onto West 9 Mile Road

4.5 mi · 10 min · West 9 Mile Road
Use the left lane.
11

Arrive at destination

West 9 Mile Road

Trip Plan

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 73.3 miles from Wyoming, MI, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.9 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 32 miles or 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 73.3 miles or 1h 25m 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 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ferndale, MI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Wyoming, 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 Wyoming, MI

This is one driving day of about 146.6 miles and 2h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Wyoming, 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 96 for about 119.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Perry, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Perry, MI

73 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

DeWitt, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East Lansing, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.3 miles from Wyoming, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 96 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 119.9 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 142.1 — 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 | M 11 / 28th Street Southwest

Turn right onto M 11 / 28th Street Southwest

Navigation decision point

5
8.9 mi into trip | ~16m in | I 96

Merge onto I 96

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
62 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | I 96

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 East: Detroit

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 96 East: Detroit
7
141.6 mi into trip | ~2h 39m in

Take the exit toward 9 Mile Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 14B Toward 9 Mile Road
5
142.1 mi into trip | ~2h 40m in | West 9 Mile Road

Turn left onto West 9 Mile Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.73 one way

$45.46 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $24.92 $49.84
premium $4.93 $28.44 $56.89
diesel $5.60 $32.32 $64.63

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: 51.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44 0 $15.39 $7.04
Efficient EV 36.7 0 $12.83 $5.86
EV Truck/SUV 58.6 0 $20.52 $9.38

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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 Sep 1, 2026

Origin

Wyoming, MI

Morning in Wyoming on Saturday

Local time

8:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

SW 2 to 10 mph 16% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued August 31 at 12:05PM EDT until August 31 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI

Destination

Ferndale, MI

Morning in Ferndale on Saturday

Local time

8:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 8 mph 43% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued August 31 at 12:05PM EDT until August 31 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI

58°F

Perry, MI

73 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

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 51m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

146.6 mi in 2h 51m, mostly highway — 119.9 mi of that is on I 96.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.9 mi on I 96.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Walter P Reuther Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near M 11 / 28th Street Southwest.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 146.6 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (M 11 / 28th Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

978 ft 645 ft

Total Climb

524 ft

Total Descent

520 ft

Highest Point

978 ft

~104.7 mi in

Elevation Range

333 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 Wyoming, MI to Ferndale, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 5 East: Port Huron along the way.

M 5 East: Port Huron

128.8 mi in | ~2h 24m | via I 696

About the Cities

Starting in Wyoming, MI

Full guide →

Founded 1959

Wyoming is a city southwest of Grand Rapids in West Michigan.

Top landmarks

  • • Norton Mound Group — archaeological site in Michigan, United States

Arriving in Ferndale, MI

Full guide →

Founded 1918

Royal Oak is a suburb of Detroit in Oakland County, Michigan known for its trendy downtown shopping area and bars. 1 mile South of Royal Oak is Ferndale, a place very similar to Royal Oak, known for its large lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender population. North of Royal Oak is Birmingham, an opulent area known for its upscale boutiques.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 146.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 119.9 miles on I 96. 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 (M 11 / 28th Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles (I 96): 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 Ferndale, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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