Origin
Farmington Hills, MI
Afternoon in Farmington Hills on Monday
Local time
2:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Farmington Hills, MI to Manistee, MI
Drive Time
4h 38m
Distance
242.8 mi
391 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 25m
★
6 AM
4h 39m
8 AM
5h 6m
10 AM
4h 48m
12 PM
4h 45m
3 PM
4h 49m
5 PM
5h 4m
8 PM
4h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Farmington Hills, MI
fish socks
Manistee, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Farmington Hills, MI to Manistee, MI covers 242.8 miles and takes about 4h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 23, US 10, Cadillac Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.2 miles on US 23. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.88 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
121.4 miles from Farmington Hills, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 38m highway drive covering 242.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 23 and US 10. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.2 miles on US 23.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 242.8 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 2.5 miles (I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway
Merge onto I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 96
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
22.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 148A; 147; 147B
Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spe...
8
22.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 148B
Toward US 23 North: Flint
5
101.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 10 West: Midland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 162B
Toward US 10 West: Midland
Towns Along This Route
Between Farmington Hills, MI and Manistee, MI, road signs point toward Flint, To M 115: Ludington, Cadillac and M 115: Cadillac.
Flint
22.3 mi in
|
~26m
To M 115: Ludington
150.9 mi in
|
~2h 41m
|
via US 10
Cadillac
150.9 mi in
|
~2h 41m
|
via US 10
M 115: Cadillac
158.5 mi in
|
~2h 48m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 23 | 78.2 mi | 1h 23m |
| US 10 | 56.9 mi | 56m |
| Cadillac Drive | 37.6 mi | 51m |
| Caberfae Highway | 25.1 mi | 29m |
| East M-55 Highway | 18.8 mi | 22m |
| I 96 | 15.3 mi | 16m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| West 12 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 23
— 78.2 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington Hills, MI and Manistee, MI.
1
Start on Farmington Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Farmington Road
2
Turn right onto West 12 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 12 Mile Road
3
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
256 ft
·
4 sec
·
Orchard Lake Road
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
5
Merge onto I 696
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight lane.
6
Merge onto I 96
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
Exit 148A; 147; 147B
Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 148B
Toward US 23 North: Flint
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 23
78 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
US 23
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 162B
Toward US 10 West: Midland
11
Continue on US 10
11 mi
·
11 min
·
US 10
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
US 10
Toward US 10: Clare
13
Take the exit onto US 10
7.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 10
Toward US 10 WEST, TO M 115: Ludington, Cadillac
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward M 115: Cadillac
15
Turn right onto M 115
38 mi
·
51 min
·
Cadillac Drive
16
Turn left onto M 55
19 mi
·
22 min
·
East M-55 Highway
17
Continue on M 55
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Caberfae Highway
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto US 31
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Parkdale Avenue
19
Continue on US 31
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Parkdale Road
20
Continue on US 31
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur Street
21
Continue on US 31
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Cleveland Street
22
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Memorial Drive
23
Turn left onto Washington Street
405 ft
·
13 sec
·
Washington Street
24
Continue on Maple Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Maple Street
25
Turn right
90 ft
·
6 sec
26
Arrive at 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 121.4 miles from Farmington Hills, MI, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.2 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.4 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manistee, 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 242.8 miles and 4h 38m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 23 for about 78.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 121.4 mi from Farmington Hills, MI · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121.4 miles from Farmington Hills, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 23 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.2 miles.
Arriving in Manistee, MI
The final approach into Manistee, 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 Manistee, 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
$36.88 one way
$73.76 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $40.65 | $81.31 |
| premium | $4.80 | $45.84 | $91.67 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $53.94 | $107.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.49 | $11.65 |
| Efficient EV | 60.7 | 0 | $21.25 | $9.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.1 | 1 | $33.99 | $15.54 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Manistee, MI
Afternoon in Manistee on Monday
Local time
2:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°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
18 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
4h 38m 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 Farmington Hills, MI to Manistee, MI covers 242.8 miles and takes about 4h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 23, US 10, Cadillac Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 121.4 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 $36.88 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 demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 242.8 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 2.5 miles (I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Farmington Hills, MI and Manistee, MI, road signs point toward Flint, To M 115: Ludington, Cadillac and M 115: Cadillac.
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