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Trip from Livonia, MI to Riverside, MI

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

Drive Time

3h 4m

Distance

168.4 mi

271 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 53m ★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 14m
5 PM
3h 26m
8 PM
2h 57m

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

city in Wayne County, Michigan, United States

Livonia, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Riverside, MI, MI

Riverside, MI

Birka Ollyk

Trip Overview

The drive from Livonia, MI to Riverside, MI covers 168.4 miles and takes about 3h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 94, M 14, Jeffries Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 136.1 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.33 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

84.2 miles from Livonia, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 168.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 4m highway drive covering 168.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and M 14. The longest continuous stretch is about 136.1 miles on I 94.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 136.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,001 ft 638 ft

Total Climb

579 ft

Total Descent

578 ft

Highest Point

1,001 ft

~48.1 mi in

Elevation Range

363 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and M 14. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Merriman Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 168.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 22.4 miles (M 14): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 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.
8
22.4 mi into trip | ~26m in | M 14

Keep slight left at fork onto M 14 toward M 14: Ann Arbor

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 45 Toward M 14: Ann Arbor
6
163.8 mi into trip | ~2h 57m in

Take the exit toward I 196 North, US 31 North: South Haven, Holland, Grand Rapids

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 34 Toward I 196 North, US 31 North: South Haven, H...
6
167.7 mi into trip | ~3h 2m in

Take the exit toward Coloma, Riverside

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 4 Toward Coloma, Riverside

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Livonia, MI to Riverside, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 14: Ann Arbor along the way.

M 14: Ann Arbor

22.4 mi in | ~26m | via M 14

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 136.1 mi 2h 25m
M 14 22.8 mi 24m
Jeffries Freeway 3.3 mi 3m
I 196 3.3 mi 3m
Merriman Road 1 mi 1m
Schoolcraft Road 0.3 mi <1m
Riverside Road 0.3 mi <1m
Coloma Road 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 136.1 mi, about 2h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Continue on M 14

17 mi · 18 min · M 14
10

Keep slight left at fork onto M 14

5.4 mi · 5 min · M 14
Exit 45 Toward M 14: Ann Arbor Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 94

136 mi · 2 hr 25 min · I 94
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
12

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 34 Toward I 196 North, US 31 North: South Haven, Holland, Grand Rapids
13

Merge onto I 196; US 31

3.3 mi · 3 min · I 196; US 31
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 4 Toward Coloma, Riverside
15

Keep slight right at fork

368 ft · 9 sec
16

Turn slight right onto Coloma Road

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Coloma Road
17

Turn left onto Riverside Road

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Riverside Road
18

Arrive at destination

Riverside Road

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 84.2 miles from Livonia, MI, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.1 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 37 miles or 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 84.2 miles or 1h 32m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, 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 168.4 miles and 3h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 94 for about 136.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 84.2 mi from Livonia, MI · 1h 32m into the drive

Downtown Michigan Center, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Michigan Center, MI

84 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

Chelsea, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Michigan Center, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 84.2 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 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 136.1 miles.

Arriving in Riverside, MI

The final approach into Riverside, 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 Riverside, MI.

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.33 one way

$52.65 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $28.91 $57.81
premium $4.89 $32.41 $64.81
diesel $5.61 $37.18 $74.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 50.5 0 $17.68 $8.08
Efficient EV 42.1 0 $14.74 $6.74
EV Truck/SUV 67.4 0 $23.58 $10.78

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 kg (66% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Livonia, MI

Afternoon in Livonia on Saturday

Local time

12:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Riverside, MI

Afternoon in Riverside on Saturday

Local time

12:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

45°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

1 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

3h 4m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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 Riverside, MI covers 168.4 miles and takes about 3h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, M 14, Jeffries Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 84.2 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 $26.33 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 168.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 22.4 miles (M 14): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Livonia, MI to Riverside, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 14: Ann Arbor along the way.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 638 ft to 1,001 ft elevation with about 579 ft of total climbing.

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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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