Origin
Ludington, MI
Afternoon in Ludington on Monday
Local time
1:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Ludington, MI to Rochester Hills, MI
Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
250 mi
402 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
32 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 19m
★
6 AM
4h 32m
8 AM
4h 59m
10 AM
4h 42m
12 PM
4h 39m
3 PM
4h 43m
5 PM
4h 58m
8 PM
4h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ludington, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Rochester Hills, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Ludington, MI to Rochester Hills, MI covers 250 miles and takes about 4h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 96, US 31, I 69 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 88.7 miles on I 96. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.97 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
125 miles from Ludington, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 32m highway drive covering 250 miles, with most of the trip on I 96 and US 31. The longest continuous stretch is about 88.7 miles on I 96.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 96 is the longest continuous segment at about 88.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and US 31. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 61.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 250 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 61.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
61.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 96: Grand Rapids, Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 110A
Toward I 96: Grand Rapids, Lansing
7
204.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
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 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
6
204.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
7
244 mi into trip
|
~4h 21m in
Take the exit toward M 59 East: Utica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 77A
Toward M 59 East: Utica
7
247.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 26m in
Take the exit toward Crooks Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44
Toward Crooks Road
Towns Along This Route
Between Ludington, MI and Rochester Hills, MI, road signs point toward Lansing and Detroit.
Lansing
61.5 mi in
|
~1h 7m
Detroit
204.5 mi in
|
~3h 38m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 88.7 mi | 1h 35m |
| US 31 | 56.3 mi | 57m |
| I 69 | 51.5 mi | 52m |
| I 75 | 38.7 mi | 41m |
| M 59 | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| South Pere Marquette Highway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| West Hamlin Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Ludington Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 88.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ludington, MI and Rochester Hills, MI.
1
Start on this road
70 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto M 116
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ludington Avenue
3
Continue on US 10
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Ludington Avenue
4
Continue on US 10
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West US Highway 10
5
Turn right onto US-31 BUS
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
South Pere Marquette Highway
6
Take the ramp onto US-31 BUS
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
US-31 BUS
Toward US 31 South: Muskegon
7
Merge onto US 31
50 mi
·
51 min
·
US 31
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 31
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
US 31
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 110A
Toward I 96: Grand Rapids, Lansing
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 96
89 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
2.5 mi
·
2 min
Exit 89
Toward I 69 East: Flint
12
Merge onto I 69
52 mi
·
52 min
·
I 69
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit
15
Merge onto I 75; US 23
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 75; US 23
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 77A
Toward M 59 East: Utica
Use the right lane.
18
Merge onto M 59
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
M 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 44
Toward Crooks Road
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn left onto Crooks Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Crooks Road
Use the left / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto West Hamlin Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Hamlin Road
22
Enter roundabout onto South Livernois Road
214 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Livernois Road
23
Continue on South Livernois Road
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Livernois Road
24
Turn right onto Dressler Lane
196 ft
·
13 sec
·
Dressler Lane
25
Turn left onto Downhill Lane
378 ft
·
21 sec
·
Downhill Lane
26
Turn left onto Dickson Lane
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dickson Lane
27
Arrive at destination
Dickson Lane
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 125 miles from Ludington, MI, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.7 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125 miles or 2h 16m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rochester Hills, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ludington, 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 Ludington, MI
This is one driving day of about 250 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ludington, 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 96 for about 88.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 125 mi from Ludington, MI · 2h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 125 miles from Ludington, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 96 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.7 miles.
Arriving in Rochester Hills, MI
The final approach into Rochester Hills, 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 Rochester Hills, 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
$37.97 one way
$75.94 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $41.86 | $83.72 |
| premium | $4.80 | $47.19 | $94.39 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $55.54 | $111.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
32 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Muskegon, MI
Tesla
10 DCFC
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Ludington, MI
Tesla
8 DCFC
Family Fare Supermarket - Tesla Supercharger
Grand Rapids, MI
Tesla
8 DCFC
Walker, MI
Walker, MI
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE
6 DCFC
Meijer #20 (Grand Rapids, MI)
Grand Rapids, MI
Electrify America
6 DCFC
TrueSource EV Village of Springlake
Spring Lake, MI
RED_E
4 DCFC
Betten Baker Ford Coopersville
Coopersville, MI
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Walker, MI
Tesla
4 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 11
RED_E: 7
Tesla: 4
EV Connect: 3
FORD_CHARGE: 2
Blink Network: 1
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1
Electrify America: 1
Non-Networked: 1
CHARGIE: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75 | 0 | $26.25 | $12.00 |
| Efficient EV | 62.5 | 0 | $21.88 | $10.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100 | 1 | $35.00 | $16.00 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Destination
Rochester Hills, MI
Afternoon in Rochester Hills on Monday
Local time
1:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°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.
Road read
4h 32m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ludington, MI to Rochester Hills, MI covers 250 miles and takes about 4h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 96, US 31, I 69. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 125 miles from Ludington, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.97 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 22 significant decision points across 250 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 61.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ludington, MI and Rochester Hills, MI, road signs point toward Lansing and Detroit.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Rochester Hills, MI
More trips to Rochester Hills, MI
Explore more options from Ludington, MI or browse trips ending in Rochester Hills, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.
Explore maps for Ludington, MI or Rochester Hills, MI on MapSof.net.