Skip to main content

Trip from Bay Mills, MI to Ann Arbor, MI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 1m

Distance

335.5 mi

540 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 48m ★
6 AM
5h 2m
8 AM
5h 29m
10 AM
5h 11m
12 PM
5h 9m
3 PM
5h 13m
5 PM
5h 28m
8 PM
4h 54m

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

Downtown Bay Mills, MI, MI

Bay Mills, MI

Wolrider YURTSEVEN

Downtown Ann Arbor, MI, MI

Ann Arbor, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bay Mills, MI to Ann Arbor, MI covers 335.5 miles and takes about 5h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Bay Mills Point Road, West Lakeshore Drive, South M-221 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.45 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

167.7 miles from Bay Mills, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 1m drive with frequent turns across 335.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Bay Mills Point Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 1m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bay Mills, MI to Ann Arbor, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Bay Mills Point Road
West Lakeshore Drive
South M-221
I 75 South
I 75
US 23
M 14 West
Depot Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Bay Mills Point Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bay Mills, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.

1

Start on South North Drive

82 ft · 4 sec · South North Drive
2

Continue on South Bay Mills Point Road

1.0 mi · 3 min · South Bay Mills Point Road
3

At the end of the road, turn left onto West Lakeshore Drive

3.9 mi · 9 min · West Lakeshore Drive
4

Turn right onto South M-221

2.5 mi · 4 min · South M-221
5

Turn left

7.5 mi · 8 min
6

Take the exit right toward I 75 South: Saint Ignace

0.3 mi · 44 sec · I 75 South: Saint Ignace
7

Merge slight left

136 mi · 2 hr 19 min
8

Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

124 mi · 2 hr 7 min · I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
9

Keep slight left

11 mi · 11 min
10

Keep slight right to continue on US 23: Ann Arbor

45 mi · 48 min · US 23: Ann Arbor
11

Take the exit slight right toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor

1.5 mi · 1 min · M 14 West: Ann Arbor
12

Take the exit right toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor
13

Turn left onto Depot Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Depot Street
14

Turn right

118 ft · 7 sec
15

Continue on North State Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North State Street
16

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 167.7 miles from Bay Mills, MI, or about 2h 30m into the drive.

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 74 miles or 1h 6m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 167.7 miles or 2h 30m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 7m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Bay Mills, 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 Bay Mills, MI

This is one driving day of about 335.5 miles and 5h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Bay Mills, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 167.7 mi from Bay Mills, MI · 2h 30m into the drive

city in Michigan, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Grayling, MI

168 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.

Popular next leg

Grayling, MI to Ann Arbor, MI

189.5 mi · 2h 48m

Pacing Suggestions

Cheboygan, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grayling, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 167.7 miles from Bay Mills, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Ann Arbor, MI

The final approach into Ann Arbor, 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 Ann Arbor, MI.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.45 one way

$104.90 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 117 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $57.59 $115.18
premium $4.89 $64.56 $129.13
diesel $5.61 $74.07 $148.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$52

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$77–$102

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 117.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 100.6 1 $35.23 $16.10
Efficient EV 83.9 0 $29.36 $13.42
EV Truck/SUV 134.2 1 $46.97 $21.47

Gas CO2

117 kg

EV CO2

39 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 15, 2026

Origin

Bay Mills, MI

Night in Bay Mills on Wednesday

Local time

10:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ann Arbor, MI

Night in Ann Arbor on Wednesday

Local time

10:39 PM

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

11 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 1m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Bay Mills, MI to Ann Arbor, MI covers 335.5 miles and takes about 5h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Bay Mills Point Road, West Lakeshore Drive, South M-221. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 167.7 miles from Bay Mills, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 1m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bay Mills, MI to Ann Arbor, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bay Mills, MI to Ann Arbor, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Bay Mills, MI or browse trips ending in Ann Arbor, MI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.

Explore maps for Bay Mills, MI or Ann Arbor, MI on MapSof.net.