The drive from Ann Arbor, MI to Pearl Beach, MI covers 83.9 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on M 14, Edsel Ford Freeway, Ford Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.6 miles on M 14.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.46 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.
Midpoint
41.9 miles from Ann Arbor, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 83.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Ann Arbor, MI to Pearl Beach, MI covers 83.9 miles and takes about 1h 45m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
M 14 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.6 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 5.5 miles in near M 14.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 5.5 miles (M 14): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.8 miles (I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
5.5 mi into trip|~8m in|M 14
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14 toward M 14 East: Plymouth, Livonia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 42
Toward M 14 East: Plymouth, Livonia
7
29.8 mi into trip|~34m in|I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express) toward I 96 Express: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 96 Express: Downtown
8
38.8 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Port Huron, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 190A
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Port Huron, Chicag...
7
39.1 mi into trip|~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 East: Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 94 East: Port Huron
8
68.8 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward M 29: New Baltimore, Algonac
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 243
Toward M 29: New Baltimore, Algonac
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 Pearl Beach, MI, road signs point toward M 14 East: Plymouth, Livonia, Chicago, M 29: New Baltimore and Algonac.
M 14 East: Plymouth
5.5 mi in|~8m|via M 14
Livonia
5.5 mi in|~8m|via M 14
Chicago
38.8 mi in|~44m
M 29: New Baltimore
68.8 mi in|~1h 21m
Algonac
68.8 mi in|~1h 21m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
M 14
18.6 mi
19m
Edsel Ford Freeway
17.4 mi
22m
Ford Freeway
11.8 mi
12m
I 96
9.2 mi
9m
Jeffries Freeway (Express)
9.1 mi
9m
Dixie Highway
4.7 mi
7m
23 Mile Road
3.8 mi
6m
Dyke Road
2.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
M 14
— 18.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Pearl Beach, 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 right at fork onto M 14
2.4 mi·2 min·M 14
Toward M 14 East, US 23 South: Plymouth
7
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14
15 mi·16 min·M 14
Exit 42Toward M 14 East: Plymouth, LivoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 96
9.2 mi·9 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
9.1 mi·9 min·Jeffries Freeway (Express)
Toward I 96 Express: DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 190AToward I 94 East, I 94 West: Port Huron, ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 94 East: Port HuronUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 94
17 mi·22 min·Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 94
12 mi·12 min·Ford Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 243Toward M 29: New Baltimore, AlgonacUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto M 29
3.8 mi·6 min·23 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on M 29
1.5 mi·3 min·Green Street
17
Continue on M 29
0.6 mi·58 sec·Main Street
18
Continue on M 29
4.7 mi·7 min·Dixie Highway
19
Continue on M 29
2.8 mi·4 min·Dyke Road
20
Continue on M 29
1.0 mi·1 min·Pointe Tremble Road
21
Arrive at destination
M 29
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 41.9 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.6 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.9 miles or 49m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pearl Beach, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ann Arbor, MI
This is one driving day of about 83.9 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Ann Arbor, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on M 14 for about 18.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.9 mi from Ann Arbor, MI
· 49m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.46 one way
$24.91 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$14.05
$28.10
premium
$4.65
$15.37
$30.75
diesel
$5.30
$17.52
$35.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.81
$4.03
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.34
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.75
$5.37
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Ann Arbor, MI
Morning
in Ann Arbor on Saturday
Local time
11:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 15 mph85% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pearl Beach, MI
Morning
in Pearl Beach on Saturday
Local time
11:17 AM
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
19 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 45m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ann Arbor, MI to Pearl Beach, MI covers 83.9 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are M 14, Edsel Ford Freeway, Ford Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.9 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 $12.46 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 83.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 5.5 miles (M 14): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.8 miles (I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.8 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 Pearl Beach, MI, road signs point toward M 14 East: Plymouth, Livonia, Chicago, M 29: New Baltimore and Algonac.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
