Origin
Macomb, MI
Night in Macomb on Thursday
Local time
11:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Macomb, MI to Clarkston, MI
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
42m
Distance
26.8 mi
43 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarkston, MI
Clara Alave
Trip Overview
This short 26.8-mile trip from Macomb, MI to Clarkston, MI is designed for a single day, taking around 42 minutes to complete. You'll navigate through the Midwest region of Michigan, primarily using I-75, 25 Mile Road, and Dutton Road. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this drive is very budget-friendly. Given its brevity and lack of designated stops, it's an easy local excursion rather than an overnight adventure. The overall feel is that of a straightforward, turn-heavy local drive.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 26.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 26.8-mile journey. Only 27% of the route is on the highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on local roads like 25 Mile Road and Dutton Road, interspersed with a stretch on I-75. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.2 miles on I-75, offering a brief period of higher-speed travel. The character of the drive shifts between quicker highway segments and more frequent turns and traffic lights as you transition between main arteries and local streets.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 7.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.1 miles in near North Adams 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 26.8 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 12.1 miles (North Adams Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
12.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
North Adams Road
Turn right onto North Adams Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
18 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 75 North
8
25.6 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward M 15: Clarkston, Davison
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 91
Toward M 15: Clarkston, Davison
6
25.9 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
M 15 / Ortonville Road
Turn left onto M 15 / Ortonville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
26.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 7.2 mi | 7m |
| 25 Mile Road | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| Dutton Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| East Tienken Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Brown Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| West Tienken Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| North Adams Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Runyon Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 7.2 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Macomb, MI and Clarkston, MI.
1
Start on this road
31 ft
·
0 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on 25 Mile Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
25 Mile Road
3
Enter roundabout onto 25 Mile Road
145 ft
·
4 sec
·
25 Mile Road
4
Continue on 25 Mile Road
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
25 Mile Road
5
Continue on Runyon Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Runyon Road
6
Enter roundabout onto East Tienken Road
186 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Tienken Road
7
Continue on East Tienken Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Tienken Road
8
Enter roundabout onto East Tienken Road
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Tienken Road
9
Continue on East Tienken Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East Tienken Road
Use the left lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto West Tienken Road
143 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Tienken Road
11
Continue on West Tienken Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
West Tienken Road
12
Turn right onto North Adams Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Adams Road
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto Dutton Road
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Dutton Road
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on Brown Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Brown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on Brown Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Brown Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
Use the left lane.
17
Turn straight onto Joslyn Road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Joslyn Road
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 75 North
Use the right lane.
19
Merge onto I 75
7.2 mi
·
7 min
·
I 75
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 91
Toward M 15: Clarkston, Davison
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn left onto M 15
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Ortonville Road
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on M 15
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
23
Turn left onto East Washington Street
84 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.19 one way
$8.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.60 | $9.20 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.16 | $10.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.92 | $11.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.72 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Clarkston, MI
Night in Clarkston on Thursday
Local time
11:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
42m 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 Macomb, MI to Clarkston, MI covers 26.8 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, 25 Mile Road, Dutton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.4 miles from Macomb, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.19 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 26.8 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 12.1 miles (North Adams Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Macomb, MI to Clarkston, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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