Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
43.9 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Pontiac, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Ann Arbor to Pontiac is 43.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 3 minutes via M 14 and I 275, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, connecting two points in the Midwest. Expect a local drive with frequent turns, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. Given the short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and plenty of opportunities to make unscheduled stops along the way.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 43.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction. With only 19% of the drive on highways, much of your time will be spent navigating local roads like Middlebelt Road. The longest continuous stretch without a significant turn or highway exit is 18.6 miles, primarily on M 14. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation and road signs as you transition between different types of roadways.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.9 miles you will encounter 21 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 20.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
Take the exit toward I 275 North, I 96 West: Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 696, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 696: Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ann Arbor, MI and Pontiac, MI, road signs point toward M 14 East, M 14 East: Plymouth, Livonia, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron and Farmington Hills.
M 14 East
M 14 East: Plymouth
Livonia
M 5 East
M 5 North: Port Huron
Farmington Hills
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| M 14 | 18.6 mi | 19m |
| Middlebelt Road | 7.9 mi | 13m |
| I 275 | 5.3 mi | 5m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Orchard Lake Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West 12 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Huron Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Pontiac, MI.
Start on South State Street
Turn left onto I 94 BL; US 23 BUS
Turn right onto US 23 BUS
Take the ramp onto US 23 BUS
Merge onto M 14; US 23 BUS
Keep right at fork onto M 14
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 275
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 696
Take the exit
Turn left onto Orchard Lake Road
Turn right onto West 12 Mile Road
Turn left onto Middlebelt Road
Enter roundabout onto Middlebelt Road
Continue on Middlebelt Road
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
Turn slight left
Continue on Williams Street
Turn right onto M 59
Turn right onto North Perry Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22 mi from Ann Arbor, MI · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Pontiac, 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.
Interesting stops within a short detour of your drive.
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor
Cuisine: ice_cream
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor
Cuisine: bubble_tea
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor, MI
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 05:30-21:00; Sa,Su 06:00-21:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop;pastry
Hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-18:30; Sa 08:00-18:30; Su 08...
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor
Cuisine: bubble_tea
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor
Cuisine: sandwich
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor
Cuisine: pasta
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor, MI
Cuisine: salad
Hours: Mo-Su 10:30-20:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor, MI
Cuisine: sandwich;bakery
Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-21:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-19:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Ann Arbor
Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-20:00
Visit websiteViewpoint
Near the end, short detour
Picnic_site
Near the start, short detour
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
Memorial
Near the start, right off the route
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Regular Gas
$6.86 one way
$13.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.54 | $15.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.45 | $16.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.69 | $19.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Ann Arbor on Friday
Local time
9:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Cloudy
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 17 at 7:53AM EDT until April 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 7:52AM EDT until April 17 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Destination
Night in Pontiac on Friday
Local time
9:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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