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Trip from Livonia, MI to Gaines, MI

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 23m

Distance

66.1 mi

106 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 17m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Wayne County, Michigan, United States

Livonia, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Gaines, MI, MI

Gaines, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

The drive from Livonia, MI to Gaines, MI covers 66.1 miles and takes about 1h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 23, Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway, West Baldwin Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.7 miles on US 23. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.33 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 66.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

The drive from Livonia, MI to Gaines, MI covers 66.1 miles and takes about 1h 23m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 23.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Merriman Road.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.1 miles (Merriman Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (Schoolcraft Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Merriman Road

Turn left onto Merriman Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
1 mi into trip | ~2m in | Schoolcraft Road

Turn right onto Schoolcraft Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
4.9 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward I 96 West, I 275 North: Flint, Lansing

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 96 West, I 275 North: Flint, Lansing
8
28.8 mi into trip | ~34m in

Take the exit toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, 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; 147; 147B Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spe...
8
29 mi into trip | ~34m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 North: Flint

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 148B Toward US 23 North: Flint

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Livonia, MI and Gaines, MI, road signs point toward Lansing and Flint.

Lansing

4.9 mi in | ~7m

Flint

28.8 mi in | ~34m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 23 23.7 mi 25m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway 23 mi 24m
West Baldwin Road 6.1 mi 8m
Jeffries Freeway 3.3 mi 3m
Ray Road 3.1 mi 7m
Torrey Road 1.5 mi 2m
Seymour Road 1 mi 2m
Merriman Road 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 23 — 23.7 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and Gaines, MI.

1

Start on this road

74 ft · 6 sec · this road
2

Turn right

87 ft · 8 sec
3

Turn right onto Plymouth Road

149 ft · 10 sec · Plymouth Road
4

Turn left onto Merriman Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Merriman Road
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto Schoolcraft Road

333 ft · 12 sec · Schoolcraft Road
Use the right lane.
6

Continue on Schoolcraft Road

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Schoolcraft Road
Use the left lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 96 West
8

Merge onto I 96

3.3 mi · 3 min · Jeffries Freeway
9

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 96 West, I 275 North: Flint, Lansing Use the slight right lane.
10

Merge onto I 275; I 96

23 mi · 24 min · Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 11 sec
Exit 148A; 147; 147B Toward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, Flint Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 54 sec
Exit 148B Toward US 23 North: Flint Use the slight right lane.
13

Merge onto US 23

24 mi · 25 min · US 23
14

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward Thompson Road Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn right onto West Thompson Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Thompson Road
16

Turn left onto Torrey Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Torrey Road
17

Turn left onto West Baldwin Road

6.1 mi · 8 min · West Baldwin Road
18

Turn left onto Seymour Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Seymour Road
19

Turn right onto Ray Road

3.1 mi · 7 min · Ray Road
20

Continue on East Lansing Street

0.3 mi · 48 sec · East Lansing Street
21

Turn right onto Genesee Avenue

306 ft · 13 sec · Genesee Avenue
22

Turn left onto West Lord Street

90 ft · 3 sec · West Lord Street
23

Arrive at destination

West Lord Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.1 mi from Livonia, MI · 38m into the drive

suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brighton, MI

33 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

Farmington Hills, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brighton, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.1 miles from Livonia, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gaines, MI

The final approach into Gaines, 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

$10.33 one way

$20.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.35 $22.69
premium $4.89 $12.72 $25.44
diesel $5.61 $14.59 $29.19

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.8 0 $6.94 $3.17
Efficient EV 16.5 0 $5.78 $2.64
EV Truck/SUV 26.4 0 $9.25 $4.23

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Livonia, MI

Late night in Livonia on Friday

Local time

12:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

WSW 10 to 14 mph 84% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:16PM CDT by NWS Marquette MI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:16PM CDT until April 23 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Marquette MI

Destination

Gaines, MI

Late night in Gaines on Friday

Local time

12:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

43°F

Brighton, MI

33 mi in

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

31 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

1h 23m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Gaines, MI covers 66.1 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 23, Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway, West Baldwin Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.1 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 $10.33 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 66.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.1 miles (Merriman Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (Schoolcraft Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Livonia, MI and Gaines, MI, road signs point toward Lansing and Flint.

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