Origin
Long Lake, MI
Morning in Long Lake on Monday
Local time
7:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Lake, MI to East Tawas, MI
Drive Time
37m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Lake, MI
Jacob Postuma
Trip Overview
The drive from Long Lake, MI to East Tawas, MI covers 28.5 miles and takes about 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Wilson Creek Road, Wilson Creek, Long Lake Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.33 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
14.2 miles from Long Lake, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 37m drive with frequent turns across 28.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Wilson Creek Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Long Lake, MI to East Tawas, MI is easy. At 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Long Lake, MI to East Tawas, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Wilson Creek Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wilson Creek | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Long Lake Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Webb | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Putnam Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Esmond Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Wilson Creek Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Lake, MI and East Tawas, MI.
1
Start on Long Lake Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Long Lake Road
2
Continue on North Wilson Creek Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
North Wilson Creek Road
3
Continue on Wilson Creek
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Wilson Creek
4
Continue on Long Lake Road
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Long Lake Road
5
Continue on West Webb
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Webb
6
Keep slight right to continue on West Webb
492 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Webb
7
Continue on Putnam Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Putnam Road
8
Turn left onto West Esmond Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Esmond Road
9
Continue on West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Main Street
10
Turn right onto State Highway 65
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
State Highway 65
11
Continue on M 65
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
M 65
12
Continue on State Highway 65
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 65
13
Turn left onto M 55 West
14 mi
·
21 min
·
M 55 West
14
Continue on Hemlock Street
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
Hemlock Street
15
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Lake Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Lake Street
16
Continue on West Bay Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bay Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 14.2 miles from Long Lake, MI, or about 18m into the drive.
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 28.5 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.2 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Tawas, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Long Lake, 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 Long Lake, MI
This is one driving day of about 28.5 miles and 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Long Lake, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.2 mi from Long Lake, MI · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 28.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.2 miles from Long Lake, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in East Tawas, MI
The final approach into East Tawas, 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 East Tawas, MI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.33 one way
$8.66 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
| premium | $4.80 | $5.38 | $10.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.33 | $12.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
East Tawas, MI
Morning in East Tawas on Monday
Local time
7:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
10 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
37m 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 Long Lake, MI to East Tawas, MI covers 28.5 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Wilson Creek Road, Wilson Creek, Long Lake Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.2 miles from Long Lake, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.33 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.
The drive from Long Lake, MI to East Tawas, MI is easy. At 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Long Lake, MI to East Tawas, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Long Lake, MI to East Tawas, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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