Origin
Lansing, MI
Morning in Lansing on Friday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lansing, MI to Ironwood, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10h 20m
Distance
539.7 mi
869 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$84
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 11m
★
6 AM
10h 20m
8 AM
10h 39m
10 AM
10h 27m
12 PM
10h 25m
3 PM
10h 28m
5 PM
10h 38m
8 PM
10h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ironwood, MI
Mathias Reding
Trip Overview
The drive from Lansing, MI to Ironwood, MI covers 539.7 miles and takes about 10h 20m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on West Allegan Street, Washington Square South, East Michigan Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $84.38 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
269.8 miles from Lansing, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 10m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
10h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 539.7 miles and 10h 20m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are West Allegan Street and Washington Square South.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Allegan Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 10h 20m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. Navigation is simple, but the total wheel time makes endurance and break timing the real challenge.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (10h 20m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lansing, MI to Ironwood, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Allegan Street | — | — |
| Washington Square South | — | — |
| East Michigan Avenue | — | — |
| North Larch Street | — | — |
| East Saginaw Street | — | — |
| North Homer Street | — | — |
| US 127 North | — | — |
| US 2 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Allegan Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lansing, MI and Ironwood, MI.
1
Start on Townsend Street
23 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
338 ft
·
12 sec
·
Washington Square South
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward East Michigan Avenue
20 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Michigan Avenue
5
Exit the roundabout onto East Michigan Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Michigan Avenue
6
Turn left onto North Larch Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Larch Street
7
Turn right onto East Saginaw Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
East Saginaw Street
8
Turn left onto North Homer Street
515 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Homer Street
9
Take the ramp straight toward US 127 North
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 127 North
10
Merge slight left
136 mi
·
2 hr 19 min
11
Merge slight right
94 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
13
Merge slight left onto US-2 West
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US-2 West
14
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 2
15
Continue on US-2 West
61 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
US-2 West
16
Turn right
17 mi
·
20 min
17
Turn sharp left onto M-28
35 mi
·
41 min
·
M-28
18
Continue on Cedar Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Cedar Street
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Munising
194 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Munising
20
Exit the roundabout onto East Munising
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
East Munising
21
Continue on M-28
36 mi
·
42 min
·
M-28
22
Continue on Cherry Creek Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Cherry Creek Road
23
Turn right onto County Road 480
13 mi
·
18 min
·
County Road 480
24
Continue on Rail Street
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Rail Street
25
Turn right onto Division Street
502 ft
·
11 sec
·
Division Street
26
Turn right onto West Main Street
440 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Main Street
27
Turn left onto North Teal Lake Avenue
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Teal Lake Avenue
28
Turn left onto US Highway 41
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 41
29
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
82 ft
·
5 sec
·
the route
30
Exit the roundabout
0.9 mi
·
1 min
31
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
89 ft
·
5 sec
·
the route
32
Exit the roundabout
40 mi
·
51 min
33
Turn left
59 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
34
Continue straight
19 mi
·
23 min
35
Turn right onto US 2 West
11 mi
·
14 min
·
US 2 West
36
Turn left onto Douglas Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Douglas Boulevard
37
Continue on East Frederick Street
456 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Frederick Street
38
Turn left onto North Suffolk Street
476 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Suffolk Street
39
Turn right onto East Ayer Street
463 ft
·
22 sec
·
East Ayer Street
40
Turn right onto North Lowell Street
98 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Lowell Street
41
Arrive at your 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 269.8 miles from Lansing, MI, or about 5h 10m into the drive.
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 119 miles or 2h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 269.8 miles or 5h 10m 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 269.8 miles or 5h 10m
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 9h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ironwood, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 270 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ironwood, MI
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 miles from Lansing, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 269.8 mi from Lansing, MI · 5h 10m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
178 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
356 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 Flat Rock, MIOvernight Options
Night 1
270 mi · about 5.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near McMillan, MI after about 270 miles or 5.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 119 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 269.8 miles from Lansing, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 270 miles or 5.2 hours on the road.
Arriving in Ironwood, MI
The final approach into Ironwood, 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 Ironwood, MI.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Ironwood, MI with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$84.38 one way
$168.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
189 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $92.64 | $185.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $103.86 | $207.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $119.16 | $238.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$84
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$214–$324
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 188.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 161.9 | 1 | $56.67 | $25.91 |
| Efficient EV | 134.9 | 1 | $47.22 | $21.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 215.9 | 2 | $75.56 | $34.54 |
Gas CO2
189 kg
EV CO2
63 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
Ironwood, MI
Morning in Ironwood on Friday
Local time
7:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Flat Rock, MI
356 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
10h 20m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lansing, MI to Ironwood, MI covers 539.7 miles and takes about 10h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Allegan Street, Washington Square South, East Michigan Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 270 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 269.8 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 $84.38 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Navigation is easy, but the length (10h 20m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lansing, MI to Ironwood, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lansing, MI to Ironwood, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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