Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Evening in Ann Arbor on Thursday
Local time
5:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ann Arbor, MI to Clarkston, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
47.8 mi
77 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Clarkston, MI
Clara Alave
Trip Overview
This 47.8-mile drive from Ann Arbor to Clarkston, Michigan, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes. You'll primarily navigate along US 23 BUS, Highland Road, and White Lake Road, with about half the journey on highways. Expect a modest fuel cost of around $7 for this relatively short Midwestern excursion. The mixed driving profile means you won't be stuck on a monotonous interstate the entire time. This route is perfect for a quick, straightforward trip between two points within Michigan.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 47.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is a mixed bag, with 47% of the route on highways. You'll experience stretches of quicker travel, including a significant 22.6-mile segment on US 23 BUS, which will likely feel like the most continuous driving portion. As you transition to Highland Road and White Lake Road, the driving experience will likely become more localized, potentially involving more turns and varied speed limits. This blend offers a dynamic feel, shifting from efficient travel to more community-focused roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 23 BUS is the longest continuous segment at about 22.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.3 miles in near I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.8 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.3 miles (I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street
Turn left onto I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 23 BUS
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 23 North: Flint
8
25.5 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward M 59: Howell, Pontiac
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 67
Toward M 59: Howell, Pontiac
8
25.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward M 59 East: Pontiac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward M 59 East: Pontiac
5
25.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
M 59 / Highland Road
Merge onto M 59 / Highland Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Between Ann Arbor, MI and Clarkston, MI, road signs point toward M 59: Howell, Pontiac and M 59 East: Pontiac.
M 59: Howell
25.5 mi in
|
~30m
Pontiac
25.5 mi in
|
~30m
M 59 East: Pontiac
25.8 mi in
|
~30m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 23 BUS | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| Highland Road | 10.6 mi | 15m |
| White Lake Road | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| Ormond Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| M 14 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Andersonville Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Huron Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 23 BUS
— 22.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Clarkston, MI.
1
Start on South State Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
South State Street
2
Turn left onto I 94 BL; US 23 BUS
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Huron Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto US 23 BUS
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
4
Take the ramp onto US 23 BUS
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 23 BUS
Toward M 14 East, US 23: Flint, Detroit
5
Merge onto M 14; US 23 BUS
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
M 14; US 23 BUS
6
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS
22 mi
·
24 min
·
US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 67
Toward M 59: Howell, Pontiac
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
306 ft
·
9 sec
Toward M 59 East: Pontiac
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto M 59
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Highland Road
Use the right lane.
10
Take the exit
140 ft
·
9 sec
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto M 59
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Highland Road
12
Turn right onto Ormond Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ormond Road
Use the right lane.
13
At end of road, turn right onto White Lake Road
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
White Lake Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto Andersonville Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Andersonville Road
15
Turn left onto White Lake Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
White Lake Road
16
Continue on South Holcomb Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Holcomb Road
17
Turn right onto West Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Washington Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.9 mi from Ann Arbor, MI · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clarkston, MI
The final approach into Clarkston, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.47 one way
$14.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.21 | $16.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.20 | $18.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.55 | $21.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.02 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.69 | $3.06 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Clarkston, MI
Evening in Clarkston on Thursday
Local time
5:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Clyde, MI
24 mi in
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
2 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 5m 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 Ann Arbor, MI to Clarkston, MI covers 47.8 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 23 BUS, Highland Road, White Lake Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.9 miles from Ann Arbor, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.47 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.8 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ann Arbor, MI and Clarkston, MI, road signs point toward M 59: Howell, Pontiac and M 59 East: Pontiac.
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