Origin
South Lyon, MI
Evening in South Lyon on Friday
Local time
7:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Lyon, 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
26m
Distance
16.3 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Lyon, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 16.3-mile drive from South Lyon, MI to Ann Arbor, MI takes about 26 minutes and is perfect for a day trip. You'll navigate using local roads like Pontiac Trail, Whitmore Lake Road, and Warren Road, with only a small portion on highways. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $3, making it an economical choice for exploring the Midwest region. Given its brevity, there's no need to split this journey; you can easily complete it in one go, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy your destination.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 16.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with just 6% of the journey on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 10.7 miles along Pontiac Trail. This road profile suggests a more engaging driving experience, likely involving frequent turns and changes in scenery as you move between local thoroughfares. It's not a monotonous interstate cruise but rather a route that keeps you actively navigating through Michigan communities.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pontiac Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 10.7 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Lafayette Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 16.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (South Lafayette Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (Pontiac Trail): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.3 miles (Whitmore Lake Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Lafayette Street
Turn right onto South Lafayette Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Pontiac Trail
Enter roundabout onto Pontiac Trail
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
12.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Whitmore Lake Road
At end of road, turn left onto Whitmore Lake Road
Navigation decision point
6
14.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the ramp toward M 14 West, US 23 Business South: Chicago
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward M 14 West, US 23 Business South: Chicago
7
14.4 mi into trip
|
~22m 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 South Lyon, MI to Ann Arbor, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 14 West along the way.
M 14 West
14.1 mi in
|
~21m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pontiac Trail | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| Whitmore Lake Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Warren Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| US 23 BUS | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North State Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Lafayette Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Depot Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| M 14 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pontiac Trail
— 10.7 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Lyon, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.
1
Start on West Lake Street
29 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Lake Street
2
Turn right onto South Lafayette Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lafayette Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on Pontiac Trail
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Pontiac Trail
4
Enter roundabout onto Pontiac Trail
66 ft
·
1 sec
·
Pontiac Trail
5
Continue on Pontiac Trail
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Pontiac Trail
6
Enter roundabout
68 ft
·
1 sec
7
Continue
340 ft
·
5 sec
8
Continue on Pontiac Trail
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Pontiac Trail
9
Turn slight right onto Warren Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Warren Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto Whitmore Lake Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Whitmore Lake Road
11
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward M 14 West, US 23 Business South: Chicago
12
Merge onto M 14; US 23 BUS
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
M 14; US 23 BUS
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.55 one way
$5.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.80 | $5.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.14 | $6.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.60 | $7.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Ann Arbor, MI
Evening in Ann Arbor on Friday
Local time
7:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
2 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
26m 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 South Lyon, MI to Ann Arbor, MI covers 16.3 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pontiac Trail, Whitmore Lake Road, Warren Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.2 miles from South Lyon, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.55 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 16.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (South Lafayette Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (Pontiac Trail): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.3 miles (Whitmore Lake Road): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from South Lyon, MI to Ann Arbor, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 14 West 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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