Origin
Ironwood, MI
Afternoon in Ironwood on Saturday
Local time
2:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ironwood, MI to Livonia, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
11h 18m
Distance
595.2 mi
958 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$93
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
11h 9m
★
6 AM
11h 19m
8 AM
11h 39m
10 AM
11h 26m
12 PM
11h 24m
3 PM
11h 27m
5 PM
11h 38m
8 PM
11h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ironwood, MI
Mathias Reding
Livonia, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ironwood, MI to Livonia, MI covers 595.2 miles and takes about 11h 18m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 75, M 28, M-28 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 229.2 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $93.05 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
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
297.6 miles from Ironwood, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 229.2 mi | 3h 56m |
| M 28 | 78.3 mi | 1h 31m |
| M-28 | 70.9 mi | 1h 24m |
| US 2 | 65.1 mi | 1h 15m |
| US 41 | 41 mi | 54m |
| US 23 | 30.9 mi | 33m |
| M 77 | 17.3 mi | 20m |
| I 96 | 14.9 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 229.2 mi, about 3h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ironwood, MI and Livonia, MI.
1
Start on North Lowell Street
97 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Lowell Street
2
Turn left onto East Ayer Street
461 ft
·
25 sec
·
East Ayer Street
3
Turn left onto US 2 BUS
474 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Suffolk Street
4
Turn right onto US 2 BUS
454 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Frederick Street
5
Turn slight left onto US 2 BUS
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Douglas Boulevard
6
Turn right onto US 2
12 mi
·
14 min
·
West Cloverland Drive
7
Turn left onto Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Smith Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto M 28
78 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
M 28
9
Turn right onto US 41; M 28
40 mi
·
52 min
·
US 41; M 28
10
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
92 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 41; M 28
11
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 41; M 28
12
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
94 ft
·
5 sec
·
Palms Avenue
13
Continue on US 41; M 28
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Palms Avenue
14
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
116 ft
·
6 sec
·
US-41/M-28
15
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
US-41/M-28
16
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
103 ft
·
6 sec
·
US-41/M-28
17
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US-41/M-28
18
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Marquette Bypass
19
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
109 ft
·
6 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
20
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
21
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
107 ft
·
1 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
22
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
23
Take the exit onto US 41; M 28
410 ft
·
10 sec
·
US 41; M 28
24
Merge onto US 41; M 28
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Front Street
25
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US-41/M-28
26
Turn left onto M 28
36 mi
·
42 min
·
M-28
27
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
West Munising Avenue
28
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Cedar Street
29
Continue on M 28
35 mi
·
41 min
·
M-28
30
Turn sharp right onto M 77
17 mi
·
20 min
·
M 77
31
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
65 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
US 2
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
33
Merge onto I 75
94 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
I 75
34
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
124 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 75; US 23
36
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
31 mi
·
33 min
·
US 23
Toward US 23: Ann Arbor
37
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
38
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
39
Merge onto I 96
15 mi
·
15 min
·
I 96
Use the straight lane.
40
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 163
Toward I 96, I 275, M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
42
Continue on I 275; I 96
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 275; I 96
43
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
Use the slight left lane.
44
Merge onto I 96
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Jeffries Freeway
Toward I 96 East: Livonia, Detroit
45
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 175
Toward Merriman Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Turn straight onto Schoolcraft Road
477 ft
·
14 sec
·
Schoolcraft Road
47
Turn right onto Merriman Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Merriman Road
48
Turn right
98 ft
·
9 sec
49
Turn right
31 ft
·
2 sec
50
Arrive at destination
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 297.6 miles from Ironwood, MI, or about 6h 5m 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 131 miles or 2h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 297.6 miles or 6h 5m 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 297.6 miles or 6h 5m
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 10h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livonia, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ironwood, 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 Ironwood, MI
Aim for roughly 298 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Livonia, MI
Aim for roughly 298 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 131 miles from Ironwood, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 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.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
196 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
393 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 Boyne City, MIOvernight Options
Night 1
298 mi · about 5.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near McMillan, MI after about 298 miles or 5.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 131 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 297.6 miles from Ironwood, 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 298 miles or 5.7 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 345 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 593.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 2 BUS / North Suffolk Street
Turn left onto US 2 BUS / North Suffolk Street
Navigation decision point
6
400.2 mi into trip
|
~7h 52m 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
8
582 mi into trip
|
~11h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 96, I 275, M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 163
Toward I 96, I 275, M 5 North: Detroit, Toledo
6
589.1 mi into trip
|
~11h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 96 East: Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
7
593.7 mi into trip
|
~11h 15m in
Take the exit toward Merriman Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 175
Toward Merriman Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$93.05 one way
$186.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
208 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $102.17 | $204.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $114.54 | $229.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $131.41 | $262.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$93
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$223–$333
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 208.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 178.6 | 2 | $62.50 | $28.57 |
| Efficient EV | 148.8 | 1 | $52.08 | $23.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 238.1 | 2 | $83.33 | $38.09 |
Gas CO2
208 kg
EV CO2
70 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Livonia, MI
Afternoon in Livonia on Saturday
Local time
3:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Flat Rock, MI
196 mi in
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
11 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
11h 18m 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?
595.2 mi / 11h 18m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: I 75.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
50 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?
10/10
At 11h 18m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 2 BUS / North Suffolk Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 34 significant decision points across 595.2 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 0.1 miles (US 2 BUS / North Suffolk Street): Navigation decision point; at 400.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 582 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Ironwood, MI to Livonia, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.
Detroit
400.2 mi in
|
~7h 52m
|
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 298 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 Livonia, 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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 2 BUS / North Suffolk Street): Navigation decision point; at 400.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 582 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 11.3 hours each way, a round trip means 22.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Livonia, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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