Origin
Bedford, MI
Evening in Bedford on Friday
Local time
5:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bedford, MI to Grand Rapids, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
56.6 mi
91 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bedford, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Grand Rapids, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 56.6-mile drive from Bedford, MI, to Grand Rapids, MI, is a straightforward 1 hour and 18-minute journey, making it an excellent option for a single-day road trip. With a highway share of 63%, you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, which is quite budget-friendly. Given the relatively short distance and manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region for the entire trip, keeping the scenery consistently Midwestern.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 56.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 63% of the route utilizing main roads like State Highway 37, US 131, and North M-37 Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.1 miles on State Highway 37, offering a solid segment of consistent driving. While primarily a highway experience, be prepared for potential transitions as you navigate between these main routes. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes efficient travel over winding scenic byways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 37 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 37 and US 131. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.3 miles in near M 37 / East Green Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 18.3 miles (M 37 / East Green Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles (Heath Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (108th Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
18.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
M 37 / East Green Street
Turn left onto M 37 / East Green Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
20.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Heath Road
Turn right onto Heath Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
34.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
108th Street Southeast
Turn left onto 108th Street Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
43.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 131
Merge onto US 131
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
56.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
Ionia Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto Ionia Avenue Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 37 | 19.1 mi | 26m |
| US 131 | 11.9 mi | 12m |
| North M-37 Highway | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| 108th Street Southeast | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| North State Highway 37 | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| 100th Street Southeast | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Heath Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 37
— 19.1 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bedford, MI and Grand Rapids, MI.
1
Start on Hutchinson Road
32 ft
·
4 sec
·
Hutchinson Road
2
Turn right onto M 37
17 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 37
3
Continue on M 37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hanover Street
4
Turn left onto M 37
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Green Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto M 37
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Broadway Street
6
Turn left onto M 37; M 43
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
7
Continue on M 37; M 43
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
West State Highway 43
8
Turn right onto Heath Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Heath Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn right onto M 37
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 37
10
Continue on M 37
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
North M-37 Highway
11
Continue on M 37
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
South Broadway Street
12
Continue on M 37
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Broadway Street
13
Continue on M 37
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Arlington Street
14
Continue on M 37
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North State Highway 37
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto 108th Street Southeast
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
108th Street Southeast
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast
17
Turn left onto 100th Street Southeast
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
100th Street Southeast
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 131 North: Grand Rapids
19
Merge onto US 131
12 mi
·
12 min
·
US 131
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 84B
Toward Cherry Street Downtown
21
Turn right onto Cherry Street Southwest
248 ft
·
15 sec
·
Cherry Street Southwest
22
Turn left onto Ionia Avenue Southwest
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Ionia Avenue Southwest
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Fulton Street West
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Fulton Street West
24
Arrive at destination
Fulton Street West
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.3 mi from Bedford, MI · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Bedford, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Grand Rapids, MI
The final approach into Grand Rapids, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.85 one way
$17.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.72 | $19.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.89 | $21.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.50 | $24.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.72 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.95 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.92 | $3.62 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Grand Rapids, MI
Evening in Grand Rapids on Friday
Local time
5:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 18m 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 Bedford, MI to Grand Rapids, MI covers 56.6 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 37, US 131, North M-37 Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.3 miles from Bedford, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.85 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 56.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 18.3 miles (M 37 / East Green Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles (Heath Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (108th Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bedford, MI to Grand Rapids, 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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