The drive from Livonia, MI to L'Anse, MI covers 517.9 miles and takes about 9h 49m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 75, US 23, M-28 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-distance drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 180.5 miles on I 75.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $80.97 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
258.9 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 32m into the drive
.
Drive Character
At 517.9 miles and 9h 49m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 75 and US 23.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 180.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 23. 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 Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 517.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 27 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 L'Anse, MI, road signs point toward Flint and Escanaba.
Flint
28.8 mi in|~34m
Escanaba
289.5 mi in|~5h 4m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
180.5 mi
3h 4m
US 23
79.3 mi
1h 25m
M-28
70.9 mi
1h 23m
US-2 West
62.1 mi
1h 12m
US 41
53.3 mi
1h 10m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
23 mi
24m
M 77
17.3 mi
20m
County Road 480
12.5 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 180.5 mi, about 3h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and L'Anse, 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, LansingUse 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; 147BToward US 23 South, US 23 North: Ann Arbor, Spencer Road, FlintUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·54 sec
Exit 148BToward US 23 North: FlintUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto US 23
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·US 23
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 75; US 23
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
118 mi·2 hr 1 min·I 75
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 344BToward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
17
Merge onto US 2; I 75 BL
0.7 mi·1 min·US-2 West
18
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi·3 min·US 2
19
Continue on US 2
61 mi·1 hr 11 min·US-2 West
20
Turn right onto M 77
17 mi·20 min·M 77
21
Turn sharp left onto M 28
35 mi·41 min·M-28
22
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi·28 sec·Cedar Street
23
Enter roundabout onto M 28
194 ft·11 sec·East Munising
24
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi·4 min·East Munising
25
Continue on M 28
36 mi·42 min·M-28
26
Continue on CR 551
1.8 mi·2 min·Cherry Creek Road
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn right onto CR 480
13 mi·18 min·County Road 480
28
Continue on Rail Street
0.4 mi·36 sec·Rail Street
29
Turn right onto Division Street
503 ft·10 sec·Division Street
30
Turn right onto M 28 BUS
440 ft·12 sec·West Main Street
31
Turn left onto M 28 BUS
0.5 mi·52 sec·North Teal Lake Avenue
32
Turn left onto US 41; M 28
2.7 mi·4 min·US Highway 41
33
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
83 ft·4 sec·US 41; M 28
34
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; M 28
35
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
88 ft·5 sec·US 41; M 28
36
Continue on US 41; M 28
52 mi·1 hr 8 min·US 41; M 28
37
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Broad Street
38
Arrive at destination
East Broad Street
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 258.9 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 4h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.5 miles.
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 114 miles or 2h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 258.9 miles or 4h 32m 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 258.9 miles or 4h 32m
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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near L'Anse, 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.
+
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 Livonia, MI
Aim for roughly 259 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into L'Anse, MI
Aim for roughly 259 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 114 miles from Livonia, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 180.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 258.9 mi from Livonia, MI
· 4h 32m into the drive
The midpoint is around 258.9 miles from Livonia, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 180.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 259 miles or 4.9 hours on the road.
Arriving in L'Anse, MI
The final approach into L'Anse, 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 L'Anse, MI.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach L'Anse, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$25
near mile 392.9
Park Closure: Munising Falls Trail Closed Until Further Notice
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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 517.9
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
155.4
1
$54.38
$24.86
Efficient EV
129.5
1
$45.32
$20.72
EV Truck/SUV
207.2
2
$72.51
$33.15
Gas CO2
181 kg
EV CO2
61 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Livonia, MI
Late night
in Livonia on Saturday
Local time
5:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
L'Anse, MI
Late night
in L'Anse on Saturday
Local time
5:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
33°F
Laketon, MI
342 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 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
9h 49m 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 Livonia, MI to L'Anse, MI covers 517.9 miles and takes about 9h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, US 23, M-28. 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 259 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 258.9 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 $80.97 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 517.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 L'Anse, MI, road signs point toward Flint and Escanaba.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
