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Trip from Rochester Hills, MI to Iron Mountain, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 36m

Distance

463.9 mi

747 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$73

one way

EV Charging

Good

11 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
8h 29m ★
6 AM
8h 37m
8 AM
8h 52m
10 AM
8h 42m
12 PM
8h 41m
3 PM
8h 43m
5 PM
8h 52m
8 PM
8h 32m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Oakland County, Michigan, United States

Rochester Hills, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Iron Mountain, MI, MI

Iron Mountain, MI

Andrei Iusco

Trip Overview

The drive from Rochester Hills, MI to Iron Mountain, MI covers 463.9 miles and takes about 8h 36m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 75, US-2 West, US 2 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 265.7 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $72.53 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

232 miles from Rochester Hills, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 4m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 265.7 mi 4h 35m
US-2 West 135.3 mi 2h 41m
US 2 32.9 mi 38m
US 2 & 41 20.5 mi 25m
M 59 2.6 mi 2m
North Lincoln Road 2 mi 3m
Ludington Street 1.5 mi 1m
West Hamlin Road 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 265.7 mi, about 4h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rochester Hills, MI and Iron Mountain, MI.

1

Start on Dickson Lane

0.2 mi · 53 sec · Dickson Lane
2

At end of road, turn right onto Downhill Lane

378 ft · 18 sec · Downhill Lane
3

Turn right onto Dressler Lane

196 ft · 14 sec · Dressler Lane
4

Turn left onto South Livernois Road

0.3 mi · 27 sec · South Livernois Road
5

Enter roundabout onto West Hamlin Road

17 ft · 0 sec · West Hamlin Road
6

Continue on West Hamlin Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · West Hamlin Road
7

Turn left onto Crooks Road

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Crooks Road
8

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward M 59 West: Pontiac Use the right lane.
9

Merge onto M 59

2.6 mi · 2 min · M 59
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 40B Toward I 75 North: Flint Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto I 75

33 mi · 35 min · I 75
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

52 mi · 56 min · I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23

63 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 75; US 23
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

118 mi · 2 hr 1 min · I 75
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 344B Toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
16

Merge onto US 2; I 75 BL

0.7 mi · 1 min · US-2 West
17

Continue on US 2

3.2 mi · 3 min · US 2
18

Continue on US 2

135 mi · 2 hr 40 min · US-2 West
19

Merge onto US 2; US 41; M 35

2.0 mi · 3 min · North Lincoln Road
20

Turn right onto US 2; US 41

1.5 mi · 1 min · Ludington Street
21

Continue on US 2; US 41

20 mi · 25 min · US 2 & 41
22

Turn right onto US 2

30 mi · 34 min · US 2
23

Turn left onto M 95

115 ft · 1 sec · East Ludington Street
24

Arrive at destination

M 95

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 232 miles from Rochester Hills, MI, or about 4h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 265.7 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 102 miles or 1h 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 232 miles or 4h 4m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 232 miles or 4h 4m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 23m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Rochester Hills, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Rochester Hills, MI

Aim for roughly 232 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Iron Mountain, MI

Aim for roughly 232 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 miles from Rochester Hills, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 265.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Harbor Springs, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Harbor Springs, MI

232 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Harbor Springs, MI

Overnight Options

Night 1

Harbor Springs, MI

232 mi · about 4.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Harbor Springs, MI after about 232 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Skidway Lake, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 102 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Boyne City, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 232 miles from Rochester Hills, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 265.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 232 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Mug Shots Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rapid River, Michigan

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 397.6

+19063981415

Top Coffee Stop

Contrast Coffee Co.

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iron Mountain, Michigan

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 463.9

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+19064515662

Visit website

Neucup

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iron Mountain, Michigan

0.8 mi

Strait to the Roots

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mackinaw City, Michigan

0.9 mi

Circle K

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 397.6

Rapid River, Michigan

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19069367151

Visit website

Mug Shots Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 397.6

Rapid River, Michigan

+19063981415

Cafe Immortelle

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10

Troy, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12482509858

Visit website

Contrast Coffee Co.

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 463.9

Iron Mountain, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+19064515662

Visit website

Neucup

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 463.9

Iron Mountain, Michigan

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+19064485044

Strait to the Roots

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 265.1

Mackinaw City, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12314366005

Visit website

Waters End Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 198.8

Gaylord, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

Visit website

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 33.1

Grand Blanc, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+18104984909

Visit website

The Wacky Taxidermy and Miniatures Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 265.1

Mackinaw City, Michigan

+12312034333

Visit website

Iron Mountain City Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 463.9

Iron Mountain, Michigan

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 265.1

Mackinaw City, Michigan

+12314364100

Visit website

Pine Mountain Ski Jump

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 463.9

Iron Mountain, Michigan

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19067791110

Visit website

Wawatam Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 265.1

Mackinaw City, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

Mackinaw Bridge Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 265.1

Mackinaw City, Michigan

+12314365534

McGulpin Point Lighthouse

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 265.1

Mackinaw City, Michigan

+12314365860

Visit website

Headlands International Dark Sky Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 265.1

Mackinaw City, Michigan

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12314271001

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 271.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Downhill Lane

At end of road, turn right onto Downhill Lane

Navigation decision point

5
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Livernois Road

Turn left onto South Livernois Road

Navigation decision point

6
2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward M 59 West: Pontiac

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward M 59 West: Pontiac
7
5.2 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward I 75 North: Flint

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 40B Toward I 75 North: Flint
6
271.5 mi into trip | ~4h 45m in

Take the exit toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba

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

Exit 344B Toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$72.53 one way

$145.05 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 162 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $79.63 $159.26
premium $4.89 $89.27 $178.55
diesel $5.61 $102.42 $204.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$73

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$203–$313

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 162.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

11 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Auburn Hills, MI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Simon Property Group Great Lakes Crossing (Auburn Hills, MI)

Auburn Hills, MI

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Meijer S. Adams Rd. - Rochester Hills, MI #260

Rochester Hills, MI

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

Great Lakes Shopping Center

Auburn Hills, MI

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

Waterford Shell

Waterford Twp, MI

RED_E

4 DCFC

Serra Buick GMC Rochester Hills

Rochester Hills, MI

RED_E

2 DCFC

Serra Ford Rochester Hills

Rochester Hills, MI

RED_E

2 DCFC

The Auburn Mile Shopping Center - Meijer

Auburn Hills, MI

JULE

2 DCFC

RED_E: 5 eVgo Network: 2 JULE: 1 Tesla: 1 Electrify America: 1 Non-Networked: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 139.2 1 $48.71 $22.27
Efficient EV 116 1 $40.59 $18.56
EV Truck/SUV 185.6 2 $64.95 $29.69

Gas CO2

162 kg

EV CO2

54 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Rochester Hills, MI

Afternoon in Rochester Hills on Saturday

Local time

2:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Iron Mountain, MI

Afternoon in Iron Mountain on Saturday

Local time

1:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

36°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

Time zone

1 hour earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

11 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

8h 36m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 8h 36m highway drive covering 463.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and US-2 West. The longest continuous stretch is about 265.7 miles on I 75.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
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 265.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US-2 West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Downhill Lane.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 463.9 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 0.2 miles (Downhill Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South Livernois Road): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

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 Rochester Hills, MI to Iron Mountain, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Escanaba along the way.

Escanaba

271.5 mi in | ~4h 45m

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Rochester Hills, MI to Iron Mountain, MI covers 463.9 miles and takes about 8h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 75, US-2 West, US 2. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 232 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 232 miles from Rochester Hills, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $72.53 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks 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 18 significant decision points across 463.9 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 0.2 miles (Downhill Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South Livernois Road): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Rochester Hills, MI to Iron Mountain, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Escanaba along the way.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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