Origin
Lansing, MI
Afternoon in Lansing on Thursday
Local time
4:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lansing, MI to Clarkston, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
73.7 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarkston, MI
Clara Alave
Trip Overview
This straightforward 73.7-mile drive from Lansing to Clarkston, Michigan, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. You'll primarily be on major highways, with 86% of the journey utilizing them, making it a quick commute within the Midwest. The estimated fuel cost for this relatively short distance is around $12. With no recommended stops, this route is designed for efficient travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing to break up the journey overnight. It’s a practical option for getting between these two Michigan cities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 73.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, as 86% of the route is on major roadways. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 38.3 miles on I 69 BL, offering a consistent pace. The journey begins on East Saginaw Street before transitioning to I 75, where you'll experience the predictable flow of interstate driving. While not overly complex, the route emphasizes getting you from point A to point B efficiently, with minimal deviations from the main highway system. This ensures a smooth, if not particularly varied, driving experience.
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 BL is the longest continuous segment at about 38.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 BL and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 47 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
47 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward I 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
6
47.4 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
8
72.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward M 15: Davison, Clarkston
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 91
Toward M 15: Davison, Clarkston
6
73.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
M 15 / North Main Street
Turn right onto M 15 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
73.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
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.
On the drive from Lansing, MI to Clarkston, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.
Detroit
47 mi in
|
~54m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 69 BL | 38.3 mi | 39m |
| I 75 | 24.9 mi | 26m |
| East Saginaw Street | 7 mi | 11m |
| Saginaw Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Larch Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Michigan Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Allegan Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 69 BL
— 38.3 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lansing, MI and Clarkston, MI.
1
Start on Townsend Street
22 ft
·
3 sec
·
Townsend Street
2
Turn right onto West Allegan Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Allegan Street
3
Turn left onto Washington Square South
339 ft
·
11 sec
·
Washington Square South
4
Enter roundabout onto East Michigan Avenue
20 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Michigan Avenue
5
Continue on East Michigan Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Michigan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto I 96 BL
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Larch Street
7
Turn right onto I 69 BL; M 43
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Saginaw Street
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 BL
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Saginaw Street
9
Continue on I 69 BL
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Saginaw Highway
10
Take the ramp onto I 69 BL
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 69 BL
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 BL
38 mi
·
38 min
·
I 69 BL
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
14
Merge onto I 75; US 23
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 75; US 23
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 75
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 91
Toward M 15: Davison, Clarkston
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto M 15
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto East Washington Street
84 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.9 mi from Lansing, MI · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from Lansing, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clarkston, MI
The final approach into Clarkston, 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
$11.52 one way
$23.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.18 | $28.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.27 | $32.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.32 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Clarkston, MI
Afternoon in Clarkston on Thursday
Local time
4:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
16 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 25m 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 Lansing, MI to Clarkston, MI covers 73.7 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 69 BL, I 75, East Saginaw Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.9 miles from Lansing, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.52 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 73.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 47 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Lansing, MI to Clarkston, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.
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