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Trip from Lyons, MI to Ann Arbor, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 55m

Distance

100.6 mi

162 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 47m ★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m

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

Downtown Lyons, MI, MI

Lyons, MI

fish socks

Downtown Ann Arbor, MI, MI

Ann Arbor, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 100.6-mile journey from Lyons to Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-96 and US-23, with a short section on South Keefer Highway, it's a highway-focused route designed for efficiency. With a projected fuel cost of around $16, this trip is budget-friendly for a day excursion. The Midwest scenery provides a familiar backdrop as you travel within the state of Michigan. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and uncomplicated transition between two Michigan locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

50.3 miles from Lyons, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 100.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, with 90% of the drive taking place on major roads like I-96 and US-23. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 73.7 miles on I-96, allowing for consistent speed and minimal interruptions. While the majority of the drive is on high-speed thoroughfares, the introduction of South Keefer Highway towards the end offers a slight shift in character. This blend means you'll spend most of your time navigating efficiently on the interstate, with a brief taste of a more localized road as you approach your destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 73.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and US 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31.6 miles in near I 96.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 100.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 31.6 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
31.6 mi into trip | ~38m in | I 96

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 East: Detroit

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 96 East: Detroit
8
82.4 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in

Take the exit toward US 23: Ann Arbor, Flint

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 148A-B Toward US 23: Ann Arbor, Flint
8
82.7 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 148A Toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor
7
97.1 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | US 23 BUS

Take the exit onto US 23 BUS toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 45 Toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor
7
98.7 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in | US 23 BUS

Take the exit onto US 23 BUS toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 3 Toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor

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 Lyons, MI to Ann Arbor, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Flint along the way.

Flint

82.4 mi in | ~1h 32m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 73.7 mi 1h 18m
US 23 14.1 mi 15m
South Keefer Highway 7.2 mi 9m
US 23 BUS 2.4 mi 3m
North State Street 0.6 mi 1m
Libhart Street 0.5 mi 1m
East Bridge Street 0.5 mi 1m
Depot Street 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 73.7 mi, about 1h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lyons, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.

1

Start on East Bridge Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Bridge Street
2

Continue on Libhart Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Libhart Street
3

Continue on South Keefer Highway

7.2 mi · 9 min · South Keefer Highway
4

Turn right onto East Grand River Avenue

0.3 mi · 27 sec · East Grand River Avenue
5

Turn left onto Portland Road

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Portland Road
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
7

Merge onto I 96

23 mi · 24 min · I 96
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96

51 mi · 54 min · I 96
Toward I 96 East: Detroit Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 21 sec
Exit 148A-B Toward US 23: Ann Arbor, Flint Use the slight right lane.
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 148A Toward US 23 South: Ann Arbor Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto US 23

14 mi · 15 min · US 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit onto US 23 BUS

1.5 mi · 1 min · US 23 BUS
Exit 45 Toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit onto US 23 BUS

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 23 BUS
Exit 3 Toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn left onto Depot Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Depot Street
Use the left lane.
15

Turn right

119 ft · 6 sec
16

Continue on North State Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Arrive at destination

South State Street

Trip Plan

Given the manageable 1 hour and 55-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. Plan to leave Lyons either early to beat any potential local traffic or mid-morning for a more relaxed start. With no designated stops in the data, you can decide on your own pace for rest or fuel, though the longest stretch without a major road change is over 73 miles, so consider a brief pause before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-96 to US-23, as this is a key point where you'll want to ensure you're in the correct lane for your onward journey.

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 50.3 miles from Lyons, MI, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.7 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 22 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50.3 miles or 58m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ann Arbor, MI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lyons, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lyons, MI

This is one driving day of about 100.6 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Lyons, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 73.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 50.3 mi from Lyons, MI · 58m into the drive

city and county seat of Livingston County, Michigan, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Howell, MI

50 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.

Popular next leg

Howell, MI to Ann Arbor, MI

29.8 mi · 36m

Pacing Suggestions

Grand Ledge, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Haslett, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.3 miles from Lyons, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 96 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.7 miles.

Arriving in Ann Arbor, MI

The final approach into Ann Arbor, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.73 one way

$31.46 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.27 $34.54
premium $4.89 $19.36 $38.72
diesel $5.61 $22.21 $44.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.2 0 $10.56 $4.83
Efficient EV 25.2 0 $8.80 $4.02
EV Truck/SUV 40.2 0 $14.08 $6.44

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 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 16, 2026

Origin

Lyons, MI

Late night in Lyons on Friday

Local time

5:46 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ann Arbor, MI

Late night in Ann Arbor on Friday

Local time

5:46 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°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

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 55m 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 Lyons, MI to Ann Arbor, MI covers 100.6 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 96, US 23, South Keefer Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 50.3 miles from Lyons, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.73 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.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 100.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 31.6 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Lyons, MI to Ann Arbor, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Flint along the way.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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