Origin
Gaines, MI
Night in Gaines on Thursday
Local time
9:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gaines, MI to Ann Arbor, MI
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
49.2 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaines, MI
fish socks
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 49.2-mile drive from Gaines to Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 9 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with no need to split the journey or consider an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $7, making it an economical option. Primarily following US 23, Seymour Road, and Ray Road, this route offers a highway-focused experience through the Midwest region of Michigan. You'll find this drive to be efficient and practical for getting between these two points.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 49.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused journey for this trip, with 69% of the drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 31.6 miles on US 23, which provides a good opportunity for steady progress. While primarily a highway experience, the route incorporates local roads like Seymour Road and Ray Road, offering a slight variation from pure interstate driving. This blend means you’ll experience sections of faster travel interspersed with more local road conditions, making for a dynamic, though not overly complex, drive.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 31.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
998 ft
834 ft
Total Climb
268 ft
Total Descent
245 ft
Highest Point
998 ft
~17.6 mi in
Elevation Range
164 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and Seymour Road. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Genesee Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.2 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Genesee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 8.7 miles (Silver Lake Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Genesee Avenue
Turn right onto Genesee Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
8.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Silver Lake Road
At end of road, turn left onto Silver Lake Road
Navigation decision point
5
13.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the ramp toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor
Navigation decision point
Toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor
7
45.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 23 BUS
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45
Toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor
7
47.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
US 23 BUS
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor
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 Gaines, MI to Ann Arbor, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor along the way.
M 14 West: Ann Arbor
45.8 mi in
|
~1h 3m
|
via US 23 BUS
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 23 | 31.6 mi | 33m |
| Seymour Road | 5.2 mi | 12m |
| Ray Road | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| US 23 BUS | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Lobdell Road | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| White Lake Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| North State Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Bennett Lake Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 23
— 31.6 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaines, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.
1
Start on West Lord Street
90 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Lord Street
2
Turn right onto Genesee Avenue
306 ft
·
13 sec
·
Genesee Avenue
3
Turn left onto East Lansing Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Lansing Street
4
Continue on Ray Road
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Ray Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto Seymour Road
5.2 mi
·
12 min
·
Seymour Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto Silver Lake Road
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Silver Lake Road
7
Turn right onto Glen Hatt Road
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Glen Hatt Road
8
Turn right onto Lobdell Road
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Lobdell Road
9
Turn right onto Linden Road
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Linden Road
10
Turn left onto Bennett Lake Road
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Bennett Lake Road
11
Turn right onto White Lake Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
White Lake Road
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor
13
Merge onto US 23
32 mi
·
33 min
·
US 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 23 BUS
Exit 45
Toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 23 BUS
Exit 3
Toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto Depot Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Depot Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right
119 ft
·
6 sec
18
Continue on North State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
South State Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.6 mi from Gaines, MI · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Gaines, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ann Arbor, MI
The final approach into Ann Arbor, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.69 one way
$15.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.45 | $16.89 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.86 | $21.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Ann Arbor, MI
Night in Ann Arbor on Thursday
Local time
9:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
WSW 12 to 17 mph
19% chance
Live forecast
66°F
Hartland, MI
25 mi in
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
35 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 9m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gaines, MI to Ann Arbor, MI covers 49.2 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 23, Seymour Road, Ray Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.6 miles from Gaines, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.69 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.2 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Genesee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 8.7 miles (Silver Lake Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Gaines, MI to Ann Arbor, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 834 ft to 998 ft elevation with about 268 ft of total climbing.
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