The drive from Grand Rapids, MI to Verona, MI covers 210.7 miles and takes about 3h 54m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 69, I 96, South Van Dyke Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87 miles on I 69.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.94 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
105.4 miles from Grand Rapids, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 210.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 3h 54m highway drive covering 210.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 69 and I 96. The longest continuous stretch is about 87 miles on I 69.
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.
I 69 is the longest continuous segment at about 87 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and I 96. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Division Avenue North.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 54m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Division Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (Michigan Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Division Avenue North
Turn left onto Division Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Michigan Street Northeast
Turn left onto Michigan Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 196 East: Lansing
Navigation decision point
Toward I 196 East: Lansing
6
145.2 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward M 53: Imlay City, Almont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 168
Toward M 53: Imlay City, Almont
6
145.7 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|M 53 / Van Dyke Road
Turn left onto M 53 / Van Dyke Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Grand Rapids, MI and Verona, MI, road signs point toward M 53: Imlay City and Almont.
M 53: Imlay City
145.2 mi in|~2h 33m
Almont
145.2 mi in|~2h 33m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
87 mi
1h 29m
I 96
51.1 mi
54m
South Van Dyke Road
34.8 mi
39m
North Van Dyke Road
19.7 mi
25m
Sand Beach Road
5 mi
7m
Gerald R Ford Freeway
3.9 mi
4m
West Huron Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
South Cedar Street
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 87 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Rapids, MI and Verona, MI.
1
Start on Fulton Street West
57 ft·9 sec·Fulton Street West
2
Turn left onto Division Avenue North
0.4 mi·1 min·Division Avenue North
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Division Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi·18 sec·Division Avenue Northeast
4
Turn left onto Michigan Street Northeast
232 ft·10 sec·Michigan Street Northeast
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I 196 East: Lansing
6
Merge onto I 196
3.9 mi·4 min·Gerald R Ford Freeway
7
Merge onto I 96
51 mi·54 min·I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
2.5 mi·2 min
Exit 89Toward I 69 East: Flint
9
Merge onto I 69
87 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 168Toward M 53: Imlay City, Almont
11
Turn left onto M 53
0.2 mi·15 sec·Van Dyke Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on M 53
1.6 mi·2 min·South Cedar Street
13
Continue on M 53
0.6 mi·1 min·North Cedar Street
14
Continue on M 53
20 mi·25 min·North Van Dyke Road
15
Continue on M 53
1.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on M 53
35 mi·39 min·South Van Dyke Road
17
Continue on M 53
1.6 mi·2 min·West Huron Avenue
18
Continue on M 142
5.0 mi·7 min·Sand Beach Road
19
Arrive at destination
M 142
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 105.4 miles from Grand Rapids, MI, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87 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 46 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.4 miles or 1h 52m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Verona, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids, MI
This is one driving day of about 210.7 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Grand Rapids, 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 I 69 for about 87 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 105.4 mi from Grand Rapids, MI
· 1h 52m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.94 one way
$65.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.17
$72.33
premium
$4.89
$40.55
$81.09
diesel
$5.61
$46.52
$93.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.2
0
$22.12
$10.11
Efficient EV
52.7
0
$18.44
$8.43
EV Truck/SUV
84.3
1
$29.50
$13.48
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Grand Rapids, MI
Afternoon
in Grand Rapids on Friday
Local time
3:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 9 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 2:52PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued April 16 at 1:53PM EDT until April 17 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Destination
Verona, MI
Afternoon
in Verona on Friday
Local time
3:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
26 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
3h 54m 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 Grand Rapids, MI to Verona, MI covers 210.7 miles and takes about 3h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 69, I 96, South Van Dyke 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 105.4 miles from Grand Rapids, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.94 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 54m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Division Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (Michigan Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
Between Grand Rapids, MI and Verona, MI, road signs point toward M 53: Imlay City and Almont.
