Origin
Iron Mountain, MI
Afternoon in Iron Mountain on Saturday
Local time
3:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iron Mountain, MI to Ann Arbor, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 41m
Distance
470.3 mi
757 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$74
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 34m
★
6 AM
8h 42m
8 AM
8h 57m
10 AM
8h 47m
12 PM
8h 46m
3 PM
8h 48m
5 PM
8h 56m
8 PM
8h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iron Mountain, MI
Andrei Iusco
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Iron Mountain, MI to Ann Arbor, MI covers 470.3 miles and takes about 8h 41m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 75, West Lakeshore Drive, US-2/US-41/M-35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 229.2 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $73.53 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
235.1 miles from Iron Mountain, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 35m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 229.2 mi | 3h 56m |
| West Lakeshore Drive | 88.4 mi | 1h 44m |
| US-2/US-41/M-35 | 46 mi | 55m |
| US 23 | 45.4 mi | 48m |
| US 2 | 25.2 mi | 31m |
| Eighth Avenue | 20.4 mi | 23m |
| US-2/US-141 | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| US 23 BUS | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 229.2 mi, about 3h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iron Mountain, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.
1
Start on M 95
115 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Ludington Street
2
Turn right onto US 2; US 141
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Stephenson Avenue
3
Continue on US 2; US 141
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
US-2/US-141
4
Continue on US 2
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Murray Road
5
Turn straight onto US 2
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Eighth Avenue
6
Continue on US 2; US 41
22 mi
·
27 min
·
US 2; US 41
7
Turn left onto US 2; US 41; M 35
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Lincoln Road
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 2; US 41; M 35
46 mi
·
55 min
·
US-2/US-41/M-35
9
Continue on US 2
88 mi
·
1 hr 44 min
·
West Lakeshore Drive
10
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 2
11
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
US-2 West
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
13
Merge onto I 75
94 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
I 75
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
124 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 75; US 23
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
45 mi
·
48 min
·
US 23
Toward US 23: Ann Arbor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
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.
19
Turn left onto Depot Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Depot Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right
119 ft
·
6 sec
21
Continue on North State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
South State Street
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 235.1 miles from Iron Mountain, MI, or about 4h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 229.2 miles.
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 103 miles or 2h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 235.1 miles or 4h 35m 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 235.1 miles or 4h 35m
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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ann Arbor, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Iron Mountain, 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 Iron Mountain, MI
Aim for roughly 235 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ann Arbor, MI
Aim for roughly 235 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Iron Mountain, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 229.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
235 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
235 mi · about 4.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Harbor Springs, MI after about 235 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 235.1 miles from Iron Mountain, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 229.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 235 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 51.7 and 468.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
51.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
US 2; US 41; M 35 / North Lincoln Road
Turn left onto US 2; US 41; M 35 / North Lincoln Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
286.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 28m in
|
I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
7
421.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 46m in
|
US 23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23 toward US 23: Ann Arbor
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 23: Ann Arbor
7
466.8 mi into trip
|
~8h 35m 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
468.4 mi into trip
|
~8h 37m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.53 one way
$147.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
165 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $80.73 | $161.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $90.50 | $181.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $103.84 | $207.67 |
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: 164.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 141.1 | 1 | $49.38 | $22.57 |
| Efficient EV | 117.6 | 1 | $41.15 | $18.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 188.1 | 2 | $65.84 | $30.10 |
Gas CO2
165 kg
EV CO2
55 kg (67% 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
Ann Arbor, MI
Afternoon in Ann Arbor on Saturday
Local time
4:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
WSW 15 mph
12% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:59AM EDT until April 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:59AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
44 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
8h 41m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
470.3 mi in 8h 41m, mostly highway — 229.2 mi of that is on I 75.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 229.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and West Lakeshore Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 51.7 miles in near US 2; US 41; M 35 / North Lincoln Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 470.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 51.7 miles (US 2; US 41; M 35 / North Lincoln Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 286.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 421.4 miles (US 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,398 ft
587 ft
Total Climb
1,267 ft
Total Descent
1,526 ft
Highest Point
1,398 ft
~268.7 mi in
Elevation Range
811 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Iron Mountain, MI to Ann Arbor, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.
Detroit
286.3 mi in
|
~5h 28m
|
via I 75
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 229.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 235 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ann Arbor, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 51.7 miles (US 2; US 41; M 35 / North Lincoln Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 286.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 421.4 miles (US 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.7 hours each way, a round trip means 17.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ann Arbor, MI before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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