Origin
Highland, MI
Late night in Highland on Saturday
Local time
2:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland, MI to Lansing, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
53.2 mi
86 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland, MI
Francesco Ungaro
Trip Overview
This straightforward 53.2-mile drive from Highland, MI, to Lansing, MI, will take you about 1 hour and 6 minutes. It's a perfect one-day trip, so you won't need to worry about booking overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $8. You'll primarily be on I-96, with some initial and final stretches on local roads. Given both locations are in the Midwest region of Michigan, you'll experience a familiar landscape throughout. This is a practical option for a quick connection between these two Michigan cities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 53.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 59% of it being highway. You'll encounter a 26.2-mile stretch on I-96, offering a chance to maintain a steady speed. The drive begins and ends with local road segments before merging onto the interstate, providing a varied driving experience. This blend means you'll transition from potentially slower, more local traffic to faster-paced highway travel and then back again.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 96 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near M 59 / Highland Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.2 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.3 miles (M 59 / Highland Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (M 59 / Highland Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
M 59 / Highland Road
Turn right onto M 59 / Highland Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
M 59 / Highland Road
Turn left onto M 59 / Highland Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
20 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward I 96 West: Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
6
46.5 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 26.2 mi | 28m |
| Highland Road | 19.7 mi | 27m |
| Ransom E Olds Freeway | 5.3 mi | 5m |
| South Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Milford Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Allegan Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Townsend Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 26.2 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland, MI and Lansing, MI.
1
Start on this road
173 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North Milford Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
North Milford Road
3
Turn right onto M 59
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Highland Road
Use the right lane.
4
Take the exit
133 ft
·
10 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto M 59
20 mi
·
27 min
·
Highland Road
Use the right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 96
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 96
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
9
Merge onto I 496; US 127
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Ransom E Olds Freeway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 496
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Ransom E Olds Freeway
Toward I 496 West: Downtown Lansing
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 6
Toward Downtown
12
Turn right onto South Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Walnut Street
13
Turn right onto West Allegan Street
412 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Allegan Street
14
Turn right onto Townsend Street
22 ft
·
1 sec
·
Townsend Street
15
Arrive at destination
Townsend Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.6 mi from Highland, MI · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.6 miles from Highland, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lansing, MI
The final approach into Lansing, 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
$8.32 one way
$16.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.13 | $18.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.24 | $20.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.75 | $23.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.59 | $2.55 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.45 | $3.40 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Lansing, MI
Late night in Lansing on Saturday
Local time
2:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
5 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 6m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Highland, MI to Lansing, MI covers 53.2 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 96, Highland Road, Ransom E Olds Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.6 miles from Highland, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.32 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 53.2 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.3 miles (M 59 / Highland Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (M 59 / Highland Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Highland, MI to Lansing, 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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