Origin
Livonia, MI
Morning in Livonia on Thursday
Local time
11:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Livonia, MI to Ashland, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 56m
Distance
256.3 mi
412 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 43m
★
6 AM
4h 57m
8 AM
5h 24m
10 AM
5h 6m
12 PM
5h 4m
3 PM
5h 8m
5 PM
5h 23m
8 PM
4h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Livonia, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Ashland, MI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Livonia, MI to Ashland, MI covers 256.3 miles and takes about 4h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Plymouth Road, Merriman Road, Schoolcraft Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.07 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
128.1 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 256.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 56m drive with frequent turns across 256.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Plymouth Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 56m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Livonia, MI to Ashland, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Road | — | — |
| Merriman Road | — | — |
| Schoolcraft Road | — | — |
| I 96 West | — | — |
| Jeffries Freeway | — | — |
| Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway | — | — |
| US 23 South | — | — |
| US 23 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Plymouth Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and Ashland, MI.
1
Start on the route
75 ft
·
6 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right
89 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn right onto Plymouth Road
151 ft
·
11 sec
·
Plymouth Road
4
Turn left onto Merriman Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Merriman Road
5
Turn right onto Schoolcraft Road
335 ft
·
13 sec
·
Schoolcraft Road
6
Continue on Schoolcraft Road
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Schoolcraft Road
7
Take the ramp straight toward I 96 West
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 96 West
8
Merge slight left onto Jeffries Freeway
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Jeffries Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 96 West, I 275 North: Flint, Lansing
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 96 West, I 275 North: Flint, Lansing
10
Merge slight left onto Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
23 mi
·
24 min
·
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint
12
Keep slight right to continue on US 23 North: Flint
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 23 North: Flint
13
Merge slight left
79 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
14
Keep slight left
27 mi
·
26 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward M 61: Standish, Gladwin
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
M 61: Standish, Gladwin
16
Turn right onto M-61
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
M-61
17
Continue on West Cedar Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cedar Street
18
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
19
Continue on West Huron Road
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
West Huron Road
20
Continue on West Center Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Center Road
21
Continue on East Huron Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Huron Road
22
Turn left onto North Hale Road
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Hale Road
23
Continue on State Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
24
Continue on Hale Road
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Hale Road
25
Continue on State Highway 65
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 65
26
Continue on South Bullock Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Bullock Street
27
Continue on State Highway 65
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 65
28
Continue on M 65
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
M 65
29
Continue on State Highway 65
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 65
30
Continue on M 65
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
M 65
31
Continue on State Highway 65
11 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 65
32
Continue on Baker Road
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Baker Road
33
Continue on South State Road
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South State Road
34
Continue on State Highway 65
39 mi
·
44 min
·
State Highway 65
35
Continue straight
14 mi
·
16 min
36
Turn left onto North Bagley Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Bagley Street
37
Turn right onto Long Rapids Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Long Rapids Road
38
Turn left
9.8 mi
·
13 min
39
Turn left onto Long Lake Park Road
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Long Lake Park Road
40
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 128.1 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
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 56 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.1 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashland, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Livonia, 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 Livonia, MI
This is one driving day of about 256.3 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Livonia, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128.1 mi from Livonia, MI · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 128.1 miles from Livonia, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ashland, MI
The final approach into Ashland, 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 Ashland, MI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.07 one way
$80.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $43.99 | $87.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $49.32 | $98.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.59 | $113.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.9 | 0 | $26.91 | $12.30 |
| Efficient EV | 64.1 | 0 | $22.43 | $10.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.5 | 1 | $35.88 | $16.40 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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
Ashland, MI
Morning in Ashland on Thursday
Local time
11:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
2 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
4h 56m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Livonia, MI to Ashland, MI covers 256.3 miles and takes about 4h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Plymouth Road, Merriman Road, Schoolcraft Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 128.1 miles from Livonia, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.07 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 56m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Livonia, MI to Ashland, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Livonia, MI to Ashland, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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