Origin
Farmington Hills, MI
Morning in Farmington Hills on Saturday
Local time
10:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Farmington Hills, MI to Iron Mountain, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 48m
Distance
475.5 mi
765 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$74
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 40m
★
6 AM
8h 48m
8 AM
9h 4m
10 AM
8h 54m
12 PM
8h 52m
3 PM
8h 54m
5 PM
9h 3m
8 PM
8h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Farmington Hills, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Iron Mountain, MI
Andrei Iusco
Trip Overview
The drive from Farmington Hills, MI to Iron Mountain, MI covers 475.5 miles and takes about 8h 48m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
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 $74.34 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
237.8 miles from Farmington Hills, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 24m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 8h 48m drive with frequent turns across 475.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 12 Mile Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Farmington Hills, MI to Iron Mountain, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 12 Mile Road | — | — |
| Orchard Lake Road | — | — |
| I 696 West | — | — |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | — | — |
| US 23 South | — | — |
| US 23 North | — | — |
| US 2 | — | — |
| US-2 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 12 Mile Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington Hills, MI and Iron Mountain, 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
·
5 sec
·
Orchard Lake Road
4
Take the ramp straight toward I 696 West: Lansing
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 696 West: Lansing
5
Merge slight left onto Walter P Reuther Freeway
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
6
Merge slight right
15 mi
·
16 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint
8
Keep slight right to continue on US 23 North: Flint
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 23 North: Flint
9
Merge slight left
79 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
10
Keep slight left
63 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
11
Keep slight left
118 mi
·
2 hr 1 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
13
Merge slight left onto US-2 West
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US-2 West
14
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 2
15
Continue on US-2 West
135 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
US-2 West
16
Merge slight left onto North Lincoln Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Lincoln Road
17
Turn right onto Ludington Street
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ludington Street
18
Continue on US 2 & 41
20 mi
·
25 min
·
US 2 & 41
19
Turn right
30 mi
·
34 min
20
Turn left onto East Ludington Street
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Ludington Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 237.8 miles from Farmington Hills, MI, or about 4h 24m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 105 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 237.8 miles or 4h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 237.8 miles or 4h 24m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iron Mountain, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Farmington Hills, MI
Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Iron Mountain, MI
Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 105 miles from Farmington Hills, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 237.8 mi from Farmington Hills, MI · 4h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
238 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Harbor Springs, MIOvernight Options
Night 1
238 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Harbor Springs, MI after about 238 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 105 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 237.8 miles from Farmington Hills, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 238 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
Arriving in Iron Mountain, MI
The final approach into Iron Mountain, 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 Iron Mountain, MI.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Iron Mountain, MI with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.34 one way
$148.68 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
166 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $81.62 | $163.24 |
| premium | $4.89 | $91.51 | $183.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $104.98 | $209.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 166.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 142.7 | 1 | $49.93 | $22.82 |
| Efficient EV | 118.9 | 1 | $41.61 | $19.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 190.2 | 2 | $66.57 | $30.43 |
Gas CO2
166 kg
EV CO2
56 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Iron Mountain, MI
Morning in Iron Mountain on Saturday
Local time
9:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
29 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
8h 48m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Iron Mountain, MI covers 475.5 miles and takes about 8h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 12 Mile Road, Orchard Lake Road, I 696 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 238 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 237.8 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 $74.34 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Farmington Hills, MI to Iron Mountain, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Farmington Hills, MI to Iron Mountain, 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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