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Trip from Akron, MI to Macomb, MI

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 53m

Distance

85 mi

137 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 45m ★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 10m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 49m

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

Downtown Akron, MI, MI

Akron, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

The drive from Akron, MI to Macomb, MI covers 85 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Van Dyke Road, Van Dyke Road, East Sanilac Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25 miles on South Van Dyke Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.29 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

42.5 miles from Akron, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 53m drive with frequent turns across 85 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Van Dyke Road is the longest continuous segment at about 25 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near M 138 / Beach Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 53m 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: at 0.1 miles (M 138 / Beach Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (M 24 / Unionville Road): Navigation decision point; at 75.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | M 138 / Beach Street

At end of road, turn left onto M 138 / Beach Street

Navigation decision point

4
2.6 mi into trip | ~4m in | M 24 / Unionville Road

Turn right onto M 24 / Unionville Road

Navigation decision point

6
75.7 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in

Take the exit toward M 53 North

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

Use the left lane. Toward M 53 North
5
75.7 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | M 53

Merge onto M 53

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
75.8 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | 32 Mile Road

Turn right onto 32 Mile Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

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 Akron, MI to Macomb, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 53 North along the way.

M 53 North

75.7 mi in | ~1h 40m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Van Dyke Road 25 mi 31m
Van Dyke Road 14.1 mi 19m
East Sanilac Road 9.5 mi 10m
Romeo Plank Road 7.2 mi 9m
Mertz Road 5.5 mi 8m
Sanilac Road 4.5 mi 5m
Biebel Road 3.8 mi 5m
Unionville Road 3.4 mi 4m
Longest stretch: South Van Dyke Road — 25 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Akron, MI and Macomb, MI.

1

Start on Main Street

0.1 mi · 35 sec · Main Street
2

At end of road, turn left onto M 138

0.5 mi · 46 sec · Beach Street
3

Continue on M 138

2.0 mi · 2 min · Akron Road
4

Turn right onto M 24

3.4 mi · 4 min · Unionville Road
5

Continue on M 24

3.8 mi · 5 min · Biebel Road
6

Continue on M 24

1.3 mi · 2 min · Cleaver Road
7

Continue on M 24

0.5 mi · 41 sec · Ellington Street
8

Continue on M 24

5.5 mi · 8 min · Mertz Road
9

Turn left onto M 46

9.5 mi · 10 min · East Sanilac Road
10

Continue on M 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Street
11

Continue on M 46

4.5 mi · 5 min · Sanilac Road
12

Turn right onto M 53

5.2 mi · 5 min · South Van Dyke Road
13

Continue on M 53

1.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Continue on M 53

20 mi · 25 min · South Van Dyke Road
15

Continue on M 53

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Cedar Street
16

Continue on M 53

5.6 mi · 7 min · Van Dyke Road
Use the straight lane.
17

Turn right onto M 53

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
18

Continue on M 53

8.5 mi · 11 min · Van Dyke Road
Use the straight lane.
19

Take the exit

160 ft · 7 sec
Toward M 53 North Use the left lane.
20

Merge onto M 53

0.1 mi · 14 sec · M 53
21

Turn right onto 32 Mile Road

2.0 mi · 2 min · 32 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
22

Turn right onto Romeo Plank Road

7.2 mi · 9 min · Romeo Plank Road
23

Enter roundabout

349 ft · 9 sec
24

Arrive at destination

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.5 miles from Akron, MI, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 42.5 miles or 54m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 35m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Akron, 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 Akron, MI

This is one driving day of about 85 miles and 1h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Akron, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on South Van Dyke Road for about 25 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.5 mi from Akron, MI · 54m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Detroit, MI

43 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.

Popular next leg

Detroit, MI to Macomb, MI

35.6 mi · 48m

Pacing Suggestions

Detroit, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Detroit, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.5 miles from Akron, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Macomb, MI

The final approach into Macomb, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Macomb, MI.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.29 one way

$26.58 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.59 $29.18
premium $4.89 $16.36 $32.71
diesel $5.61 $18.77 $37.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.5 0 $8.92 $4.08
Efficient EV 21.3 0 $7.44 $3.40
EV Truck/SUV 34 0 $11.90 $5.44

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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 data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Akron, MI

Night in Akron on Tuesday

Local time

9:15 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Macomb, MI

Night in Macomb on Tuesday

Local time

9:15 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°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

21 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

1h 53m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Akron, MI to Macomb, MI covers 85 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Van Dyke Road, Van Dyke Road, East Sanilac Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.5 miles from Akron, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 53m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (M 138 / Beach Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (M 24 / Unionville Road): Navigation decision point; at 75.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Akron, MI to Macomb, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 53 North along the way.

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