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Trip from Livonia, MI to Mancelona, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 22m

Distance

231.7 mi

373 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 9m ★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 32m
12 PM
4h 29m
3 PM
4h 33m
5 PM
4h 48m
8 PM
4h 15m

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

Trip Overview

The drive from Livonia, MI to Mancelona, MI covers 231.7 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, US 23, Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 90.1 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.22 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

115.9 miles from Livonia, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 90.1 mi 1h 30m
US 23 79.3 mi 1h 25m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway 23 mi 24m
M 72 17.6 mi 24m
Darragh Road Northeast 10.8 mi 18m
Jeffries Freeway 3.3 mi 3m
Sigma Road Southeast 2 mi 3m
BL I 75 1.8 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 90.1 mi, about 1h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, MI and Mancelona, 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

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

27 mi · 27 min · I 75
16

Take the exit onto BL I 75

1.8 mi · 4 min · BL I 75
Toward I 75 Business Loop, M 72: Downtown Grayling, Traverse City
17

Turn left onto M 72; M 93

18 mi · 24 min · M 72; M 93
18

Turn right onto CR 571

2.0 mi · 3 min · Sigma Road Southeast
19

Continue on CR 571; CR 612

11 mi · 18 min · Darragh Road Northeast
20

Continue on 571

0.4 mi · 45 sec · South Maple Street
21

Merge onto US 131; M 66

248 ft · 6 sec · South Williams Street
22

Arrive at destination

US 131; M 66

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 115.9 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.1 miles.

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 51 miles or 57m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 115.9 miles or 2h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mancelona, 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 231.7 miles and 4h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 90.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Freeland, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Freeland, MI

116 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

Clyde, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Freeland, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 115.9 miles from Livonia, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Haraz Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Livonia, Michigan

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+17342366069

Visit website

Our Town Coffee & Treats

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grayling, Michigan

1.9 mi

Joe's Coffee & Tea Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Novi, Michigan

2.9 mi

Stardust Entertainment Center

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 99.3

Saginaw, Michigan

Hours: 12–11 pm

+19897936300

Visit website

Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop & Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10

Livonia, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12489578019

Visit website

Haraz Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Livonia, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+17342366069

Visit website

Our Town Coffee & Treats

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 198.6

Grayling, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+19892178099

Visit website

Joe's Coffee & Tea Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 16.6

Novi, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+12485333355

Visit website

Coffee Beanery Brighton

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Inexpensiv mile 33.1

Brighton, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+18102272233

Visit website

BakeCurry Café

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 16.6

Novi, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+12484828747

North End Coffee Cafe Bake

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 49.7

Fenton, Michigan

Hours: 6:30 am–4 pm

+18102080665

Visit website

Brighton Coffee House and Theater

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 33.1

Brighton, Michigan

Hours: 6:30 am–6:30 pm

Visit website

Thread Creek Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 33.1

Howell, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18107469302

Visit website

Painting with a Twist

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 49.7

Fenton, Michigan

Hours: 12–5 pm

+18102151088

Visit website

Flint Children's Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 66.2

Flint, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18107675437

Visit website

Airborne Adventure Park - Saginaw, MI

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 99.3

Saginaw, Michigan

Hours: 4–8 pm

+19895960022

Visit website

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 66.2

Flint, Michigan

Hours: 12–8 pm

+18104078972

Visit website

Marshall M Fredericks Sculpture Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 99.3

University Center, Michigan

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+19899647125

Visit website

Sloan Museum of Discovery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 66.2

Flint, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18102373450

Visit website

Maybury State Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 16.6

Northville, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+12483498390

Visit website

Michigan Heroes Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 82.8

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19896528005

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 29 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.22 one way

$72.45 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $39.77 $79.54
premium $4.89 $44.59 $89.18
diesel $5.61 $51.16 $102.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 69.5 0 $24.33 $11.12
Efficient EV 57.9 0 $20.27 $9.27
EV Truck/SUV 92.7 1 $32.44 $14.83

Gas CO2

81 kg

EV CO2

27 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Livonia, MI

Afternoon in Livonia on Saturday

Local time

1:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mancelona, MI

Afternoon in Mancelona on Saturday

Local time

1:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°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

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

4h 22m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 4h 22m highway drive covering 231.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and US 23. The longest continuous stretch is about 90.1 miles on I 75.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 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 90.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 Effort 10/10

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 18 significant decision points across 231.7 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.

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 Mancelona, MI, road signs point toward Flint, M 72: Downtown Grayling and Traverse City.

Flint

28.8 mi in | ~34m

M 72: Downtown Grayling

199.1 mi in | ~3h 30m | via BL I 75

Traverse City

199.1 mi in | ~3h 30m | via BL I 75

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 231.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Livonia, MI to Mancelona, MI covers 231.7 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 75, US 23, Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 115.9 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 $36.22 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 demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 231.7 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 Mancelona, MI, road signs point toward Flint, M 72: Downtown Grayling and Traverse City.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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