Origin
Southfield, MI
Evening in Southfield on Wednesday
Local time
6:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southfield, MI to Bay City, MI
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
103.9 mi
167 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 51m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southfield, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Bay City, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Southfield, MI to Bay City, MI covers 103.9 miles and takes about 1h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northwestern Highway, M 10 North, John C Lodge Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.24 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
51.9 miles from Southfield, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 59m drive with frequent turns across 103.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Northwestern Highway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Southfield, MI to Bay City, MI is easy. At 1h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Southfield, MI to Bay City, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Highway | — | — |
| M 10 North | — | — |
| John C Lodge Freeway | — | — |
| US 24 North | — | — |
| Telegraph Road | — | — |
| Franklin Road | — | — |
| West Square Lake Road | — | — |
| East Square Lake Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Northwestern Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southfield, MI and Bay City, MI.
1
Start on West 10 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 10 Mile Road
2
Turn right onto Northwestern Highway
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Northwestern Highway
3
Take the ramp slight left toward M 10 North
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
M 10 North
4
Merge slight left onto John C Lodge Freeway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
5
Take the exit slight right toward US 24 North
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 24 North
6
Merge slight left onto Telegraph Road
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Telegraph Road
7
Keep slight right to continue on Franklin Road
449 ft
·
12 sec
·
Franklin Road
8
Turn right onto West Square Lake Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West Square Lake Road
9
Continue on East Square Lake Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Square Lake Road
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Flint
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 75 North: Flint
11
Merge slight left onto Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
35 mi
·
37 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw
51 mi
·
54 min
·
I 75: Saginaw
13
Take the exit slight right toward M 25 East: Downtown, Bay City
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
M 25 East: Downtown, Bay City
14
Merge slight left
2.8 mi
·
3 min
15
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
358 ft
·
8 sec
·
Washington Avenue
16
Turn right onto 9th Street
138 ft
·
6 sec
·
9th Street
17
Arrive at your destination
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 51.9 miles from Southfield, MI, or about 59m into the drive.
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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.9 miles or 59m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay City, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Southfield, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Southfield, MI
This is one driving day of about 103.9 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Southfield, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.9 mi from Southfield, MI · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.9 miles from Southfield, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bay City, MI
The final approach into Bay City, 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
$16.24 one way
$32.49 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.83 | $35.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.99 | $39.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.94 | $45.88 |
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: 36.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.91 | $4.99 |
| Efficient EV | 26 | 0 | $9.09 | $4.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.55 | $6.65 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Bay City, MI
Evening in Bay City on Wednesday
Local time
6:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
4 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
1h 59m 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 Southfield, MI to Bay City, MI covers 103.9 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northwestern Highway, M 10 North, John C Lodge Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.9 miles from Southfield, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.24 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.
The drive from Southfield, MI to Bay City, MI is easy. At 1h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Southfield, MI to Bay City, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Southfield, MI to Bay City, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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