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Trip from Ann Arbor, MI to Paw Paw, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 8m

Distance

115.2 mi

185 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 59m ★
6 AM
2h 8m
8 AM
2h 26m
10 AM
2h 14m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 15m
5 PM
2h 25m
8 PM
2h 3m

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

Downtown Ann Arbor, MI, MI

Ann Arbor, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Paw Paw, MI, MI

Paw Paw, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 115.2-mile drive from Ann Arbor to Paw Paw, MI, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in just over 2 hours. Primarily utilizing I-94, it's a highway-focused route designed for efficiency, making it an ideal one-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of around $18, this journey through the Midwest region of Michigan is quite budget-friendly. You won't need to break it up into multiple days, and the relatively short duration means you can be flexible with your departure time. This route is all about getting you from point A to point B without much fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

57.6 miles from Ann Arbor, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 115.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 97% of the drive on interstate roads. The bulk of your journey, a continuous 111.5-mile stretch, will be on I-94. This means consistent speeds and minimal distractions, allowing for a focused drive. While it is a highway-focused profile, you’ll start and end on local roads, East Huron Street and Jackson Avenue in Ann Arbor, before merging onto the interstate. The character remains largely consistent once on I-94, offering a predictable driving experience.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 111.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and East Huron Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Ann Arbor, MI to Paw Paw, MI is easy. At 2h 8m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

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 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These 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.
3
2.4 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward I 94 West: Jackson

Navigation decision point

Toward I 94 West: Jackson
3
2.7 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 94

Merge onto I 94

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
114.2 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in

Take the exit toward M 40: Lawton, Paw Paw

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward M 40: Lawton, Paw Paw
4
114.5 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in | M 40 / M-40

Turn right onto M 40 / M-40

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 111.5 mi 1h 59m
East Huron Street 1.3 mi 3m
Jackson Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
South Kalamazoo Street 0.4 mi <1m
M-40 0.3 mi <1m
South State Street 0.3 mi <1m
Kalamazoo Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: I 94 — 111.5 mi, about 1h 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Paw Paw, 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

1.3 mi · 3 min · East Huron Street
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on I 94 BL

0.9 mi · 1 min · Jackson Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 94 West: Jackson
5

Merge onto I 94

112 mi · 1 hr 59 min · I 94
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward M 40: Lawton, Paw Paw
7

Turn right onto M 40

0.3 mi · 37 sec · M-40
8

Continue on M 40

0.4 mi · 56 sec · South Kalamazoo Street
9

Arrive at destination

M 40

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour duration, this trip works perfectly as a day trip. You can leave Ann Arbor any time that suits you, but an early start will give you more flexibility upon arrival in Paw Paw. The longest stretch without a major change is 111.5 miles on I-94, so plan for a mid-drive break if needed, though there are ample services along the interstate. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $18, which is quite manageable, but it's always wise to fill up before you hit the longer highway segments if you're starting with a low tank.

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 57.6 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.5 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 25 miles or 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.6 miles or 1h 5m 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 44m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ann Arbor, 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 Ann Arbor, MI

This is one driving day of about 115.2 miles and 2h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Ann Arbor, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 111.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.6 mi from Ann Arbor, MI · 1h 5m into the drive

Downtown Homer, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Homer, MI

58 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

Michigan Center, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Butler, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.6 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.5 miles.

Arriving in Paw Paw, MI

The final approach into Paw Paw, 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 Paw Paw, MI.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.01 one way

$36.02 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $19.77 $39.55
premium $4.89 $22.17 $44.34
diesel $5.61 $25.43 $50.87

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.6 0 $12.10 $5.53
Efficient EV 28.8 0 $10.08 $4.61
EV Truck/SUV 46.1 0 $16.13 $7.37

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Ann Arbor, MI

Afternoon in Ann Arbor on Friday

Local time

1:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Paw Paw, MI

Afternoon in Paw Paw on Friday

Local time

1:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

47°F

Homer, MI

58 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

16 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

2h 8m 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 Paw Paw, MI covers 115.2 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, East Huron Street, Jackson Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 57.6 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 $18.01 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.

The drive from Ann Arbor, MI to Paw Paw, MI is easy. At 2h 8m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (I 94 BL; US 23 BUS / East Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining.

The route from Ann Arbor, MI to Paw Paw, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.

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