Falling Rock Cafe & Bookstore
Later in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
+19063873008
Visit websiteCompiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
9h 31m
Distance
493.4 mi
794 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$77
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Superior, MI
Sebastian Luna
The drive from Lansing, MI to Superior, MI covers 493.4 miles and takes about 9h 31m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on US 127, I 75, US 41 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 136.3 miles on US 127. At current regular gas prices, budget about $77.14 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
246.7 miles from Lansing, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 19m into the drive .
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.
This is a 9h 31m highway drive covering 493.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 127 and I 75. The longest continuous stretch is about 136.3 miles on US 127.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 127 and I 75. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Allegan Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 31m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 25 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Allegan Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Washington Square South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Michigan Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto West Allegan Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Washington Square South
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto East Michigan Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn sharp left onto M 28 / M-28
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lansing, MI to Superior, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Escanaba along the way.
Escanaba
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 127 | 136.3 mi | 2h 19m |
| I 75 | 94.2 mi | 1h 37m |
| US 41 | 77.3 mi | 1h 38m |
| M-28 | 70.9 mi | 1h 23m |
| US-2 West | 62.1 mi | 1h 12m |
| M 77 | 17.3 mi | 20m |
| County Road 480 | 12.5 mi | 18m |
| Chassell Painesdale Road | 4.1 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lansing, MI and Superior, MI.
Start on Townsend Street
Turn right onto West Allegan Street
Turn left onto Washington Square South
Enter roundabout onto East Michigan Avenue
Continue on East Michigan Avenue
Turn left onto I 96 BL
Turn right onto I 69 BL; M 43
Turn left onto North Homer Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 127
Merge onto I 75
Take the exit
Merge onto US 2; I 75 BL
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Turn right onto M 77
Turn sharp left onto M 28
Continue on M 28
Enter roundabout onto M 28
Continue on M 28
Continue on M 28
Continue on CR 551
Turn right onto CR 480
Continue on Rail Street
Turn right onto Division Street
Turn right onto M 28 BUS
Turn left onto M 28 BUS
Turn left onto US 41; M 28
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
Continue on US 41; M 28
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
Continue on US 41; M 28
Turn left onto 5th Street
Continue on Chassell Painesdale Road
Turn right onto P-651
Continue on P-651
Turn left onto Superior Loc Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 109 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 246.7 miles or 4h 19m 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 246.7 miles or 4h 19m
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 8h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Superior, MI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lansing, 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 Lansing, MI
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Superior, MI
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 246.7 mi from Lansing, MI · 4h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
247 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 McMillan, MINight 1
247 mi · about 4.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near McMillan, MI after about 247 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 109 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 246.7 miles from Lansing, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 127 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 136.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 247 miles or 4.8 hours on the road.
The final approach into Superior, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Superior, MI.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Superior, MI with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Munising, Michigan
Later in the drive, right off the route
+19063873008
Miners Pasty Kitchen
Munising, Michigan
Earl E. Byrds
Munising, Michigan
Top Coffee Stop
Munising, Michigan
Later in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 7 am–12 pm
+19063878010
Rustic Grounds Coffee Co.
Munising, Michigan
The Hob Nob
Lansing, Michigan
Later in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
+19063873008
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
Hours: 9 am–6 pm
+19063876200
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
Hours: 8 am–2 pm
+19063871414
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
L'Anse, Michigan
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+19065245455
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Harvey, Michigan
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19062499464
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Wetmore, Michigan
Hours: 5 am–12 pm
+19062079956
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
Hours: 7 am–12 pm
+19063878010
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
Near the start, right off the route
Lansing, Michigan
Hours: 7 am–5:30 pm
+15173726899
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Lansing, Michigan
Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm
+15175756836
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
Later in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
Later in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
Near the start, short detour
Lansing, Michigan
Hours: 7 am–4 pm
+15172245495
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
+19063872379
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
Hours: 9 am–6 pm
+19063871900
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Munising, Michigan
+19063874477
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Munising, Michigan
Hours: 10 am–7 pm
+19063878888
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Munising, Michigan
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+19063873700
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Champion, Michigan
+19063394461
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Houghton, Michigan
Hours: 6–9:30 pm
+19065235246
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Houghton, Michigan
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+19064872572
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
The stories of people and copper in the Keweenaw Peninsula have been intertwined for more than 7,000 years. Indigenous peoples made copper into tools and trade items. Investors and immigrants arrived...
National Lakeshore
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coa...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$77.14 one way
$154.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $84.69 | $169.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $94.95 | $189.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $108.94 | $217.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$207–$317
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 172.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 148 | 1 | $51.81 | $23.68 |
| Efficient EV | 123.4 | 1 | $43.17 | $19.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 197.4 | 2 | $69.08 | $31.58 |
Gas CO2
173 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lansing on Friday
Local time
1:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Superior on Friday
Local time
1:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
33°F
McMillan, MI
247 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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