Trip from Farmington Hills, MI to Imlay City, MI

Drive Time

1h 23m

Distance

59.8 mi

96 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 17m ★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m

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

Downtown Farmington Hills, MI, MI

Farmington Hills, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

The drive from Farmington Hills, MI to Imlay City, MI covers 59.8 miles and takes about 1h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Christopher Columbus Freeway, M 59, Telegraph Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.7 miles on Christopher Columbus Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.08 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

29.9 miles from Farmington Hills, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Farmington Hills, MI to Imlay City, MI covers 59.8 miles and takes about 1h 23m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Christopher Columbus Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near West 12 Mile Road.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 59.8 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 0.9 miles (West 12 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles (US 24 / Telegraph Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in | West 12 Mile Road

Turn right onto West 12 Mile Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
7
5.8 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
5.8 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 24 / Telegraph Road

Turn sharp left onto US 24 / Telegraph Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
7
15.9 mi into trip | ~26m in | BL I 75

Keep slight left at fork onto BL I 75 toward I 75 North: Flint

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 75 North: Flint
7
17.8 mi into trip | ~28m in

Take the exit toward M 59 East: Utica

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 77A Toward M 59 East: Utica

Towns Along This Route

Between Farmington Hills, MI and Imlay City, MI, road signs point toward M 59 East: Utica and M 53 North: Imlay City.

M 59 East: Utica

17.8 mi in | ~28m

M 53 North: Imlay City

30.1 mi in | ~43m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Christopher Columbus Freeway 20.7 mi 25m
M 59 11.8 mi 13m
Telegraph Road 7.3 mi 11m
North Van Dyke Road 5.6 mi 7m
West 12 Mile Road 4.7 mi 8m
East Square Lake Road 1.6 mi 2m
South Cedar Street 1.6 mi 2m
West Square Lake Road 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Christopher Columbus Freeway — 20.7 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Farmington Hills, MI and Imlay City, MI.

1

Start on Farmington Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Farmington Road
2

Turn right onto West 12 Mile Road

4.7 mi · 8 min · West 12 Mile Road
Use the none lane.
3

Turn right onto US 24

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Telegraph Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Take the exit

129 ft · 12 sec
Use the left lane.
5

Turn sharp left onto US 24

7.2 mi · 11 min · Telegraph Road
Use the none lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 24 BUS

450 ft · 11 sec · Franklin Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Turn right onto US 24 BUS

1.2 mi · 1 min · West Square Lake Road
Use the right lane.
8

Continue on I 75 BL; US 24 BUS

1.6 mi · 2 min · East Square Lake Road
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto BL I 75

0.8 mi · 1 min · BL I 75
Toward I 75 North: Flint Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto I 75

1.1 mi · 1 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
11

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 77A Toward M 59 East: Utica Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto M 59

12 mi · 13 min · M 59
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward M 53 North: Imlay City Use the left lane.
14

Merge onto M 53

21 mi · 25 min · Christopher Columbus Freeway
Use the none lane.
15

Continue on M 53

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
Use the none lane.
16

Turn left onto M 53

5.6 mi · 7 min · North Van Dyke Road
Use the none lane.
17

Continue on M 53

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Cedar Street
Use the none lane.
18

Continue on M 53

0.1 mi · 20 sec · North Cedar Street
19

Turn left onto East 4th Street

0.3 mi · 50 sec · East 4th Street
20

Turn left onto North Almont Avenue

311 ft · 8 sec · North Almont Avenue
21

Arrive at destination

North Almont Avenue

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 29.9 miles from Farmington Hills, MI, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.7 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 59.8 miles or 1h 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 29.9 miles or 43m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 8m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Farmington Hills, 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 Farmington Hills, MI

This is one driving day of about 59.8 miles and 1h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Farmington Hills, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Christopher Columbus Freeway for about 20.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.9 mi from Farmington Hills, MI · 43m into the drive

Downtown Ann Arbor, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ann Arbor, MI

30 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

Detroit, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ann Arbor, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.9 miles from Farmington Hills, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Imlay City, MI

The final approach into Imlay City, 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 Imlay City, 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

$9.08 one way

$18.17 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $10.01 $20.03
premium $4.80 $11.29 $22.58
diesel $5.64 $13.29 $26.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.9 0 $6.28 $2.87
Efficient EV 15 0 $5.23 $2.39
EV Truck/SUV 23.9 0 $8.37 $3.83

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Farmington Hills, MI

Evening in Farmington Hills on Sunday

Local time

7:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Imlay City, MI

Evening in Imlay City on Sunday

Local time

7:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°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

2 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

1h 23m 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 Farmington Hills, MI to Imlay City, MI covers 59.8 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Christopher Columbus Freeway, M 59, Telegraph Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.9 miles from Farmington Hills, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.08 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 59.8 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 0.9 miles (West 12 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles (US 24 / Telegraph Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Farmington Hills, MI and Imlay City, MI, road signs point toward M 59 East: Utica and M 53 North: Imlay City.

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Return Trip

Imlay City, MI to Farmington Hills, MI

Plan the drive back the other way.

59.7 mi 1h 19m

Explore more options from Farmington Hills, MI or browse trips ending in Imlay City, MI.

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