Origin
Solon, MI
Morning in Solon on Monday
Local time
11:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Solon, MI to Suttons Bay, MI
Drive Time
30m
Distance
18.6 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Solon, MI to Suttons Bay, MI covers 18.6 miles and takes about 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South West Bay Shore Drive, Lake Leelanau Drive, East Fouch Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.1 miles on South West Bay Shore Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.83 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
9.3 miles from Solon, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 30m drive with frequent turns across 18.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South West Bay Shore Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 7.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near CR 641 / Lake Leelanau Drive.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 30m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (CR 641 / Lake Leelanau Drive): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (CR 618 / East Bingham Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles (South West Bay Shore Drive): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
5.3 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
CR 641 / Lake Leelanau Drive
Turn left onto CR 641 / Lake Leelanau Drive
Navigation decision point
4
8.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
CR 618 / East Bingham Road
Turn right onto CR 618 / East Bingham Road
Navigation decision point
5
11.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
South West Bay Shore Drive
At end of road, turn left onto South West Bay Shore Drive
Navigation decision point
4
18.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
East Madison Street
Turn right onto East Madison Street
Navigation decision point
4
18.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
North Front Street
Turn left onto North Front Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South West Bay Shore Drive | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| Lake Leelanau Drive | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| East Fouch Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| East Bingham Road | 2.5 mi | 6m |
| East Gallivan Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| South Weisler Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Saint Josephs Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Front Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South West Bay Shore Drive
— 7.1 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Solon, MI and Suttons Bay, MI.
1
Start on CR 616
50 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Alpine Road
2
Turn right onto CR 614
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Gallivan Road
3
Continue on CR 614
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Weisler Road
4
Continue on CR 614
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Fouch Road
5
Turn left onto CR 641
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Lake Leelanau Drive
6
Turn right onto CR 618
2.5 mi
·
6 min
·
East Bingham Road
7
At end of road, turn left onto South West Bay Shore Drive
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
South West Bay Shore Drive
8
Continue on M 22
442 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Saint Josephs Avenue
9
Turn right onto East Madison Street
166 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Madison Street
10
Turn left onto North Front Street
339 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Front Street
11
Arrive at destination
North Front Street
Trip Plan
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 9.3 miles from Solon, MI, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.1 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 18.6 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.3 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suttons Bay, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Solon, 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 Solon, MI
This is one driving day of about 18.6 miles and 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Solon, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on South West Bay Shore Drive for about 7.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.3 mi from Solon, MI · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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 18.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.3 miles from Solon, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Suttons Bay, MI
The final approach into Suttons Bay, 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 Suttons Bay, 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
$2.83 one way
$5.65 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.11 | $6.23 |
| premium | $4.80 | $3.51 | $7.02 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.13 | $8.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.95 | $0.89 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.63 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.60 | $1.19 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Suttons Bay, MI
Morning in Suttons Bay on Monday
Local time
11:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
3 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
30m 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 Solon, MI to Suttons Bay, MI covers 18.6 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South West Bay Shore Drive, Lake Leelanau Drive, East Fouch Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.3 miles from Solon, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.83 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 is a straightforward 30m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (CR 641 / Lake Leelanau Drive): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (CR 618 / East Bingham Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles (South West Bay Shore Drive): Navigation decision point.
The route from Solon, MI to Suttons Bay, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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