Origin
Livonia, MI
Night in Livonia on Friday
Local time
9:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Livonia, MI to Ironwood, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
11h 20m
Distance
595.5 mi
958 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$93
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
11h 10m
★
6 AM
11h 21m
8 AM
11h 41m
10 AM
11h 28m
12 PM
11h 26m
3 PM
11h 29m
5 PM
11h 40m
8 PM
11h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Livonia, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Ironwood, MI
Mathias Reding
Trip Overview
The drive from Livonia, MI to Ironwood, MI covers 595.5 miles and takes about 11h 20m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Plymouth Road, Merriman Road, Schoolcraft Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $93.10 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
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
297.7 miles from Livonia, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 40m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 3 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
11h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 595.5 miles and 11h 20m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Plymouth Road and Merriman Road.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 45 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?
At 11h 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 (11h 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 Livonia, MI to Ironwood, 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 Ironwood, 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
63 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
15
Keep slight left
118 mi
·
2 hr 1 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
17
Merge slight left onto US-2 West
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 West
61 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
US-2 West
20
Turn right
17 mi
·
20 min
21
Turn sharp left onto M-28
35 mi
·
41 min
·
M-28
22
Continue on Cedar Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Cedar Street
23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Munising
194 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Munising
24
Exit the roundabout onto East Munising
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
East Munising
25
Continue on M-28
36 mi
·
42 min
·
M-28
26
Continue on Cherry Creek Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Cherry Creek Road
27
Turn right onto County Road 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
502 ft
·
11 sec
·
Division Street
30
Turn right onto West Main Street
440 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Main Street
31
Turn left onto North Teal Lake Avenue
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Teal Lake Avenue
32
Turn left onto US Highway 41
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 41
33
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
82 ft
·
5 sec
·
the route
34
Exit the roundabout
0.9 mi
·
1 min
35
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
89 ft
·
5 sec
·
the route
36
Exit the roundabout
40 mi
·
51 min
37
Turn left
59 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
38
Continue straight
19 mi
·
23 min
39
Turn right onto US 2 West
11 mi
·
14 min
·
US 2 West
40
Turn left onto Douglas Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Douglas Boulevard
41
Continue on East Frederick Street
456 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Frederick Street
42
Turn left onto North Suffolk Street
476 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Suffolk Street
43
Turn right onto East Ayer Street
463 ft
·
22 sec
·
East Ayer Street
44
Turn right onto North Lowell Street
98 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Lowell Street
45
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 297.7 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 5h 40m 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 131 miles or 2h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 297.7 miles or 5h 40m 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 297.7 miles or 5h 40m
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 10h 12m
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 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 298 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ironwood, MI
Aim for roughly 298 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 131 miles from Livonia, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 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 297.7 mi from Livonia, MI · 5h 40m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
197 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
393 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
298 mi · about 5.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near McMillan, MI after about 298 miles or 5.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 131 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 297.7 miles from Livonia, 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 298 miles or 5.7 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
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
$93.10 one way
$186.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
208 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $102.22 | $204.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $114.60 | $229.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $131.48 | $262.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$93
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$223–$333
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 208.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 178.7 | 2 | $62.53 | $28.58 |
| Efficient EV | 148.9 | 1 | $52.11 | $23.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 238.2 | 2 | $83.37 | $38.11 |
Gas CO2
208 kg
EV CO2
70 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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
Ironwood, MI
Evening in Ironwood on Friday
Local time
8:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Flat Rock, MI
393 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
11 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
11h 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 Livonia, MI to Ironwood, MI covers 595.5 miles and takes about 11h 20m 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.
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 298 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 297.7 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 $93.10 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 3 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 (11h 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 Livonia, MI to Ironwood, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Livonia, MI to Ironwood, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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