Origin
Clare County, MI
Night in Clare County on Wednesday
Local time
9:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clare County, MI to Rochester Hills, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
156.2 mi
251 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 46m
★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 6m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clare County, MI
Mario Spencer
Rochester Hills, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Clare County, MI to Rochester Hills, MI covers 156.2 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, US 10, US 127 BUS for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 84.1 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.42 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.1 miles from Clare County, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 57m highway drive covering 156.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and US 10. The longest continuous stretch is about 84.1 miles on I 75.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 84.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 65.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 156.2 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 65.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
65.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 140A
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw
6
113.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
|
I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
150.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward M 59 East: Utica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 77A
Toward M 59 East: Utica
7
153.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward Crooks Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44
Toward Crooks Road
6
153.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
|
Crooks Road
Turn left onto Crooks Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
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 Clare County, MI to Rochester Hills, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Bay City along the way.
Bay City
19.6 mi in
|
~30m
|
via US 10
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 84.1 mi | 1h 30m |
| US 10 | 46.1 mi | 46m |
| US 127 BUS | 12 mi | 12m |
| M 59 | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| North Coolidge Avenue | 2 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 61 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| North Clare Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West Hamlin Road | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 84.1 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clare County, MI and Rochester Hills, MI.
1
Start on this road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West Larch Road
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Larch Road
3
Turn left onto North Coolidge Avenue
2.0 mi
·
7 min
·
North Coolidge Avenue
4
Turn right onto M 61
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 61
5
Continue on M 61
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
6
Turn right onto US 127 BUS; M 61
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
South 1st Street
7
Continue on US 127 BUS; M 61
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Park Street
8
Continue on US 127 BUS; M 61
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Clare Avenue
9
Take the ramp onto US 127 BUS
12 mi
·
12 min
·
US 127 BUS
10
Take the exit onto US 10
46 mi
·
46 min
·
US 10
Toward US 10 EAST: Midland, Bay City
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 140A
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw
12
Merge onto I 75; US 23
36 mi
·
38 min
·
I 75; US 23
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 75; US 23
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 77A
Toward M 59 East: Utica
Use the right lane.
16
Merge onto M 59
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
M 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 44
Toward Crooks Road
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto Crooks Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Crooks Road
Use the left / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto West Hamlin Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Hamlin Road
20
Enter roundabout onto South Livernois Road
214 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Livernois Road
21
Continue on South Livernois Road
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Livernois Road
22
Turn right onto Dressler Lane
196 ft
·
13 sec
·
Dressler Lane
23
Turn left onto Downhill Lane
378 ft
·
21 sec
·
Downhill Lane
24
Turn left onto Dickson Lane
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dickson Lane
25
Arrive at destination
Dickson Lane
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.1 miles from Clare County, MI, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.1 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 34 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.1 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rochester Hills, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clare County, 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 Clare County, MI
This is one driving day of about 156.2 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Clare County, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 84.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.1 mi from Clare County, MI · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.1 miles from Clare County, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.1 miles.
Arriving in Rochester Hills, MI
The final approach into Rochester Hills, 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 Rochester Hills, 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
$24.42 one way
$48.84 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.81 | $53.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.06 | $60.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.49 | $68.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.9 | 0 | $16.40 | $7.50 |
| Efficient EV | 39.1 | 0 | $13.67 | $6.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.5 | 0 | $21.87 | $10.00 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Rochester Hills, MI
Night in Rochester Hills on Wednesday
Local time
9:32 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
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
2h 57m 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 Clare County, MI to Rochester Hills, MI covers 156.2 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, US 10, US 127 BUS. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.1 miles from Clare County, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.42 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 156.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 65.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Clare County, MI to Rochester Hills, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Bay City along the way.
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