Origin
Grand Rapids, MI
Afternoon in Grand Rapids on Saturday
Local time
1:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grand Rapids, MI to Riverside, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
72.9 mi
117 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
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.
Grand Rapids, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, MI
Birka Ollyk
Trip Overview
Grand Rapids to Riverside is 72.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 22 minutes via Gerald R Ford Freeway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Michigan. The drive is primarily on a highway, making it a straightforward journey. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick relocation or a day trip without significant planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Gerald R Ford Freeway | 69.2 mi | 1h 14m |
| Market Avenue Southwest | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Fulton Street West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Riverside Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Coloma Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Gerald R Ford Freeway
— 69.2 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Rapids, MI and Riverside, MI.
1
Start on Fulton Street West
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
Fulton Street West
2
Turn left onto Market Avenue Southwest
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Market Avenue Southwest
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 196 West: Holland
4
Merge onto I 196
69 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Gerald R Ford Freeway
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 4
Toward Coloma, Riverside
6
Turn right onto Coloma Road
400 ft
·
11 sec
·
Coloma Road
7
Turn left onto Riverside Road
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Riverside Road
8
Arrive at destination
Riverside Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.5 miles from Grand Rapids, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Gerald R Ford Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 72.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Market Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto Market Avenue Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 196 West: Holland
Navigation decision point
Toward I 196 West: Holland
6
72.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward Coloma, Riverside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4
Toward Coloma, Riverside
4
72.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
Coloma Road
Turn right onto Coloma Road
Navigation decision point
4
72.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
Riverside Road
Turn left onto Riverside Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.40 one way
$22.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.51 | $25.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.03 | $28.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.10 | $32.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.65 | $3.50 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.21 | $4.67 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Riverside, MI
Afternoon in Riverside on Saturday
Local time
1:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 69.2 miles on the Gerald R Ford Freeway, offering uninterrupted travel. The drive is characterized by its speed and efficiency, minimizing stops and maximizing forward progress. Expect a consistent highway experience for the majority of your time behind the wheel.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.2 mi on Gerald R Ford Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Gerald R Ford Freeway and Market Avenue Southwest. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Market Avenue Southwest.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Grand Rapids, MI to Riverside, MI is easy. At 1h 22m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Market Avenue Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 72.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 72.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.2 miles on Gerald R Ford Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Market Avenue Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 72.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Riverside, MI before heading back.
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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