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Trip from Ann Arbor, MI to Frost, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

10h

Distance

524.1 mi

844 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$82

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
9h 51m ★
6 AM
10h 0m
8 AM
10h 18m
10 AM
10h 7m
12 PM
10h 5m
3 PM
10h 8m
5 PM
10h 18m
8 PM
9h 55m

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 Frost, MI, MI

Frost, MI

Afshin Esteghlalian

Trip Overview

The drive from Ann Arbor, MI to Frost, MI covers 524.1 miles and takes about 10h behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 75, US 23 BUS, M-28 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 180.5 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $81.94 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

262.1 miles from Ann Arbor, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 180.5 mi 3h 4m
US 23 BUS 94.9 mi 1h 41m
M-28 70.9 mi 1h 23m
US-2 West 62.1 mi 1h 12m
US 41 41 mi 53m
US 141 21.9 mi 25m
M 77 17.3 mi 20m
County Road 480 12.5 mi 18m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 180.5 mi, about 3h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

95 mi · 1 hr 41 min · US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: Flint Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23

63 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 75; US 23
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

118 mi · 2 hr 1 min · I 75
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 344B Toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
10

Merge onto US 2; I 75 BL

0.7 mi · 1 min · US-2 West
11

Continue on US 2

3.2 mi · 3 min · US 2
12

Continue on US 2

61 mi · 1 hr 11 min · US-2 West
13

Turn right onto M 77

17 mi · 20 min · M 77
14

Turn sharp left onto M 28

35 mi · 41 min · M-28
15

Continue on M 28

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Cedar Street
16

Enter roundabout onto M 28

194 ft · 11 sec · East Munising
17

Continue on M 28

2.2 mi · 4 min · East Munising
18

Continue on M 28

36 mi · 42 min · M-28
19

Continue on CR 551

1.8 mi · 2 min · Cherry Creek Road
Use the straight lane.
20

Turn right onto CR 480

13 mi · 18 min · County Road 480
21

Continue on Rail Street

0.4 mi · 36 sec · Rail Street
22

Turn right onto Division Street

503 ft · 10 sec · Division Street
23

Turn right onto M 28 BUS

440 ft · 12 sec · West Main Street
24

Turn left onto M 28 BUS

0.5 mi · 52 sec · North Teal Lake Avenue
25

Turn left onto US 41; M 28

2.7 mi · 4 min · US Highway 41
26

Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28

83 ft · 4 sec · US 41; M 28
27

Continue on US 41; M 28

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 41; M 28
28

Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28

88 ft · 5 sec · US 41; M 28
29

Continue on US 41; M 28

40 mi · 51 min · US 41; M 28
30

Turn left onto US 141; M 28

22 mi · 25 min · US 141; M 28
31

Turn right onto Federal Forest Highway 16

8.5 mi · 14 min · Federal Forest Highway 16
32

Arrive at destination

FH-16

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 262.1 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, or about 4h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.5 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 115 miles or 2h 4m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 262.1 miles or 4h 35m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 262.1 miles or 4h 35m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frost, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Ann Arbor, MI

Aim for roughly 262 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Frost, MI

Aim for roughly 262 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 115 miles from Ann Arbor, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 180.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Charlevoix County, Michigan, United States of America

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Boyne City, MI

173 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Downtown Flat Rock, MI, MI

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Flat Rock, MI

346 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Flat Rock, MI

Overnight Options

Night 1

Bay Mills, MI

262 mi · about 5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Bay Mills, MI after about 262 miles or 5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Skidway Lake, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 115 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Boyne City, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 262.1 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 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 180.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 262 miles or 5 hours on the road.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Midtown Bakery & Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Negaunee, Michigan

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 449.3

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19064750064

Visit website

Campfire Coffee Roasters Inc.

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Negaunee, Michigan

0.2 mi

Misfit Society Coffee Club

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Ann Arbor, Michigan

0.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Comet Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 7:30 am–6:30 pm

+17342220579

Visit website

RoosRoast Liberty

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ann Arbor, Michigan

0.4 mi

Vertex Coffee Roasters Ann Arbor

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ann Arbor, Michigan

0.5 mi

Midtown Bakery & Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 449.3

Negaunee, Michigan

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19064750064

Visit website

Campfire Coffee Roasters Inc.

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 449.3

Negaunee, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+19064758955

Visit website

Misfit Society Coffee Club

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+17342632228

Visit website

The Drip House Coffee

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+17348004135

Visit website

RoosRoast Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+17342229202

Visit website

Circle K

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 449.3

Negaunee, Michigan

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+19064755375

Visit website

Zingerman's Coffee Company

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+17349296060

Visit website

Dozer Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+17349295217

Visit website

Comet Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 7:30 am–6:30 pm

+17342220579

Visit website

RoosRoast Liberty

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17343692494

Visit website

Vertex Coffee Roasters Ann Arbor

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+17347807060

Visit website

Jabal Coffee House

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–11 pm

+17345445450

Visit website

Contrast Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 449.3

Negaunee, Michigan

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+19064515662

Visit website

Black Diesel Coffee

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 6:30 am–7 pm

+17344368355

Visit website

Venue Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+17348229821

Visit website

Rawaq Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour Inexpensiv

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+17344368412

Visit website

Painting with a Twist

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 37.4

Fenton, Michigan

Hours: 12–5 pm

+18102151088

Visit website

Iron Ore Heritage Trail

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 449.3

Negaunee, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+19062352923

Visit website

Leslie Science & Nature Center

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+17349971553

Visit website

Michigan Iron Industry Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 449.3

Negaunee, Michigan

+19064757857

Visit website

Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum & Iron Ore Heritage Bike Trail Trailhead

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 449.3

Ishpeming, Michigan

+19064851882

Visit website

US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame & Museum

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 449.3

Ishpeming, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+19062351670

Visit website

Da Yoopers Tourist Trap and Rock Shop

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 449.3

Ishpeming, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19064855595

Visit website

Michigan Heroes Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 74.9

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19896528005

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 396.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
6
278.4 mi into trip | ~4h 51m in

Take the exit toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba

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

Exit 344B Toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
5
361.4 mi into trip | ~6h 29m in | M 28 / M-28

Turn sharp left onto M 28 / M-28

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
396.6 mi into trip | ~7h 11m in | M 28 / East Munising

Enter roundabout onto M 28 / East Munising

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$81.94 one way

$163.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 183 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $89.96 $179.93
premium $4.89 $100.86 $201.72
diesel $5.61 $115.71 $231.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$82

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$212–$322

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 183.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $55 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 157.2 1 $55.03 $25.16
Efficient EV 131 1 $45.86 $20.96
EV Truck/SUV 209.6 2 $73.37 $33.54

Gas CO2

183 kg

EV CO2

61 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 Saturday

Local time

1:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Frost, MI

Afternoon in Frost on Saturday

Local time

1:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

56°F

Flat Rock, MI

346 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

29 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

10h on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

National Lakeshore

Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coa...

15 mi from route ~38 min detour $25 near mile 379.5
Park Closure: Munising Falls Trail Closed Until Further Notice
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

524.1 mi / 10h — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: I 75.

79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.5 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 23 BUS. 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 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 524.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

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

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 Ann Arbor, MI to Frost, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Escanaba along the way.

Escanaba

278.4 mi in | ~4h 51m

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 180.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 262 miles on day one.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Frost, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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

Yes — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 10.0 hours each way, a round trip means 20.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Frost, MI before the return drive.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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