Origin
Lake Isabella, MI
Afternoon in Lake Isabella on Saturday
Local time
2:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Isabella, 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
2h 44m
Distance
144.4 mi
232 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 34m
★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Isabella, MI
sevim karakoç
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Isabella, MI to Ann Arbor, MI covers 144.4 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 96, US-127, Business US-127 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40 miles on I 96. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.58 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
72.2 miles from Lake Isabella, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 40 mi | 42m |
| US-127 | 33.4 mi | 35m |
| Business US-127 | 26.6 mi | 27m |
| US 23 | 14.1 mi | 15m |
| West Remus Road | 9 mi | 12m |
| South Bagley Road | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| North Coldwater Road | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| US 23 BUS | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 40 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Isabella, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.
1
Start on North Clubhouse Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Clubhouse Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto North Coldwater Road
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Coldwater Road
3
Turn left onto M 20
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
West Remus Road
4
Turn right onto South Lincoln Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lincoln Road
5
Turn left onto East Broomfield Road
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Broomfield Road
6
Continue on West Broomfield Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Broomfield Street
7
Turn right onto BUS US 127
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mission Street
8
Continue on BUS US 127
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Business US-127
9
Keep slight right at fork onto BUS US 127
25 mi
·
25 min
·
Business US-127
10
Continue on US 127
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
South Bagley Road
11
Continue on US 127
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US-127
12
Continue on US 127
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Bagley Road
13
Continue on US 127
32 mi
·
33 min
·
US-127
14
Take the exit onto I 496
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 496
Exit 73A
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
Use the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 96
40 mi
·
42 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 148A-B
Toward US 23: Ann Arbor, Flint
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 148A
Toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto US 23
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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.
20
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.
21
Turn left onto Depot Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Depot Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right
119 ft
·
6 sec
23
Continue on North State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
South State Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.2 miles from Lake Isabella, MI, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.2 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 14m
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 Lake Isabella, 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 Lake Isabella, MI
This is one driving day of about 144.4 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Lake Isabella, 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 96 for about 40 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 72.2 miles from Lake Isabella, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 85.3 and 142.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
85.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
I 496
Take the exit onto I 496 toward I 96 East: Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 73A
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
8
126.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
Take the exit toward US 23: Ann Arbor, Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 148A-B
Toward US 23: Ann Arbor, Flint
8
126.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 148A
Toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor
7
140.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 38m 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
142.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m 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
$22.58 one way
$45.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.79 | $49.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.79 | $55.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.88 | $63.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.16 | $6.93 |
| Efficient EV | 36.1 | 0 | $12.64 | $5.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.8 | 0 | $20.22 | $9.24 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Ann Arbor, MI
Afternoon in Ann Arbor on Saturday
Local time
2:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
25 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
2h 44m 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?
144.4 mi in 2h 44m, mostly highway — 40 mi of that is on I 96.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and US-127. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 85.3 miles in near I 496.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 144.4 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 85.3 miles (I 496): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Lake Isabella, MI to Ann Arbor, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Flint along the way.
Flint
126.1 mi in
|
~2h 22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 144.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 85.3 miles (I 496): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ann Arbor, 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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