Origin
Long Lake, MI
Morning in Long Lake on Monday
Local time
10:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Lake, MI to Grand Rapids, MI
Drive Time
3h 16m
Distance
191.4 mi
308 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Lake, MI
Jacob Postuma
Grand Rapids, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Long Lake, MI to Grand Rapids, MI covers 191.4 miles and takes about 3h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Rose City Road, Rose City Circle, East Rose City Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.07 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
95.7 miles from Long Lake, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 16m drive with frequent turns across 191.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Rose City 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 Grand Rapids, MI is easy. At 3h 16m 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 Grand Rapids, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Rose City Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rose City Circle | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Rose City Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Bennett Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North M-33 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Fairview Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Rose City Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Lake, MI and Grand Rapids, MI.
1
Start on Long Lake Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Long Lake Road
2
Turn left onto Rose City Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Rose City Road
3
Continue on Rose City Circle
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Rose City Circle
4
Continue on East Rose City Road
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Rose City Road
5
Continue on East Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
6
Turn left onto South Bennett Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Bennett Street
7
Continue on North M-33
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
North M-33
8
Turn right onto State Road
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
State Road
9
Turn left onto South Fairview Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Fairview Road
10
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Houghton Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Houghton Avenue
11
Continue on Tawas Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Tawas Road
12
Take the ramp right toward I 75 North, M 55 West: Mackinac Bridge
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 75 North, M 55 West: Mackinac Bridge
13
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
10 min
14
Keep slight right to continue on M 55 West: Houghton Lake, Cadillac
38 mi
·
53 min
·
M 55 West: Houghton Lake, Cadillac
15
Turn left onto Main Street
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Main Street
16
Continue on Lake Shore
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Shore
17
Continue on South Shore Drive
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
South Shore Drive
18
Continue on Lakeshore Drive
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Lakeshore Drive
19
Continue on South Morey Road
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Morey Road
20
Turn right onto West Blue Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Blue Road
21
Continue on Watergate Road
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Watergate Road
22
Continue on East M-55 Highway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East M-55 Highway
23
Take the ramp left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
24
Merge slight left
94 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
25
Take the exit slight left toward I 196 East: Lansing
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 196 East: Lansing
26
Merge slight right onto Gerald R Ford Freeway
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Gerald R Ford Freeway
27
Take the exit slight right toward Ottawa Avenue, Downtown
449 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ottawa Avenue, Downtown
28
Keep slight right to continue on Downtown
417 ft
·
10 sec
·
Downtown
29
Continue on Ottawa Avenue Northwest
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ottawa Avenue Northwest
30
Turn left onto Monroe Center Street Northwest
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Monroe Center Street Northwest
31
Turn right onto Division Avenue North
184 ft
·
11 sec
·
Division Avenue North
32
Turn right onto Fulton Street West
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Fulton Street West
33
Arrive at your destination
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 95.7 miles from Long Lake, MI, or about 1h 38m 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 80 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.7 miles or 1h 38m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grand Rapids, 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 191.4 miles and 3h 16m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.7 mi from Long Lake, MI · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.7 miles from Long Lake, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Grand Rapids, MI
The final approach into Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids, 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
$29.07 one way
$58.14 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $32.05 | $64.10 |
| premium | $4.80 | $36.13 | $72.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.52 | $85.04 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.00
Mackinac Bridge
$4.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.4 | 0 | $20.10 | $9.19 |
| Efficient EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.75 | $7.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.6 | 0 | $26.80 | $12.25 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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
Grand Rapids, MI
Morning in Grand Rapids on Monday
Local time
10:52 AM
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
21 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 16m 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 Grand Rapids, MI covers 191.4 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Rose City Road, Rose City Circle, East Rose City Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95.7 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 $29.07 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.
The drive from Long Lake, MI to Grand Rapids, MI is easy. At 3h 16m 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 Grand Rapids, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Long Lake, MI to Grand Rapids, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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