Drive Time
3h 16m
Distance
176.6 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
The drive from Farmington Hills, MI to Benton Harbor, MI covers 176.6 miles and takes about 3h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 12 Mile Road, Orchard Lake Road, I 696 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.22 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
88.3 miles from Farmington Hills, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 16m drive with frequent turns across 176.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 12 Mile Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Orchard Lake Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 696 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 96 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 96 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| M 14 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington Hills, MI and Benton Harbor, MI.
Start on Farmington Road
Turn right onto West 12 Mile Road
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
Take the ramp straight toward I 696 West: Lansing
Merge slight left onto Walter P Reuther Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
Keep slight left to continue on I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
Keep slight left to continue on I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
Merge slight right onto Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward M 14: Ann Arbor
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on M 14: Ann Arbor
Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago
Take the exit slight right toward BL I-94: Benton Harbor, St Joseph, DOWNTOWN
Continue on East Main Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Main Street
Exit the roundabout onto East Main Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.3 miles or 1h 38m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton Harbor, MI than in the middle of the route.
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 176.6 miles and 3h 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.3 mi from Farmington Hills, MI · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 88.3 miles from Farmington Hills, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Benton Harbor, 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 Benton Harbor, MI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$26.22 one way
$52.44 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $29.57 | $59.14 |
| premium | $4.65 | $32.36 | $64.72 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $36.88 | $73.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53 | 0 | $18.54 | $8.48 |
| Efficient EV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.45 | $7.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.72 | $11.30 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Farmington Hills on Saturday
Local time
7:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Benton Harbor on Saturday
Local time
7:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
51°F
Michigan Center, MI
88 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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