How far is Alpena, MI from Farmington Hills, MI?

The driving distance from Alpena, MI to Farmington Hills, MI is about 238.9 miles (384.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 178 miles (286.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
238.9 mi
03h 47m
Flight
178.03 mi
286.51 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Alpena.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
178.03 mi
Kilometers
286.51 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
238.9 mi
Kilometers
384.47 km
Drive Time
03h 47m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Farmington Hills
Sun, Apr 19, 5:34 PM EDT
Return by in Alpena
Sun, Apr 19, 9:21 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Alpena
2026-04-19T13:47
Arrive Farmington Hills
Sun, Apr 19, 5:34 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:26 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Alpena
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Pinconning
MI

City in Bay County, Michigan, United States of America

From Alpena
120 mi
01h 53m
To Farmington Hills
118.9 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
38°F
Sunday

Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
15 mph W
Destination
47°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 18 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Alpena and Farmington Hills.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alpena and Farmington Hills.

  1. 1

    Start on East Chisholm Street

    738 ft · 24 sec · East Chisholm Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South 3rd Avenue

    1003 ft · 29 sec · South 3rd Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Washington Avenue

    15.4 mi · 20 min · West Washington Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    82.2 mi · 1 hr 36 min

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West Huron Road

    2 mi · 3 min · West Huron Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Center Road

    1 km · 1 min · Center Road

  7. 7

    Continue on West Huron Road

    6.3 mi · 9 min · West Huron Road

  8. 8

    Continue on North Main Street

    2903 ft · 1 min · North Main Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto West Cedar Street

    3191 ft · 54 sec · West Cedar Street

  10. 10

    Continue on West M-61

    2.4 mi · 4 min · West M-61

  11. 11

    Take the ramp left toward I 75 South: Saginaw

    1735 ft · 42 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Saginaw

    64.5 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    11 mi · 12 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on US 23: Ann Arbor

    30.9 mi · 33 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight left toward I 96 East: Detroit

    1766 ft · 42 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96 East: Detroit

    3040 ft · 37 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    14.9 mi · 16 min

  18. 18

    Continue on Walter P Reuther Freeway

    4.9 mi · 5 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Farmington Hills

    2442 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Orchard Lake Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · West 11 Mile Road

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Farmington Road

    135 m · 9 sec · Farmington Road

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Farmington Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Alpena and Farmington Hills.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Washington Avenue
97.7 mi · 41%
Saginaw
75.5 mi · 32%
US 23
30.9 mi · 13%
I 96 East
15.8 mi · 7%
West Huron Road
8.29 mi · 3%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
5.39 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

West Washington Avenue

Continue straight

82.2 mi · 01h 36m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.9 mi
178 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pinconning
01h 53m from Alpena
Leave By
9:26 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Snow Showers leaving Alpena and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Farmington Hills.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Alpena to Farmington Hills?

The road trip is about 238.9 miles (384.5 km) and usually takes 03h 47m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Pinconning is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120 miles from Alpena and 118.9 miles from Farmington Hills.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 178 miles (286.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:26 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.79 one way or $63.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Snow Showers around Alpena and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Farmington Hills.

Stop Ideas Near Pinconning

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Pinconning, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Pinconning.

BUS

Bay City, MI

29 mi away
1124 Washington Avenue
BUS

Saginaw, MI

47 mi away
511 Johnson Street
BUS

Tawas City, MI

57 mi away
1020 West Lake Street
RAIL

Flint station

97 mi away
1407 South Dort Highway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Alpena and Farmington Hills. Straight-line distance: 178.03 mi (286.51 km).

Alpena

#1 Alpena

City in and county seat of Alpena County, Michigan, United States

Population8,696
Coordinates45.0616800, -83.4327500
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Farmington Hills

#2 Farmington Hills

The second most populous city in Oakland County, Michigan.

Population80,017
Coordinates42.4853100, -83.3771600
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Start: East Chisholm Street (-83.432718, 45.061699)
End: Farmington Road (-83.377532, 42.485296)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 384 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.43 gal
31.91 L · about $31.79
Round trip
$63.58
16.86 gal · 63.82 L
Estimated CO2
74.9 kg one way
Round trip: 149.8 kg / 330 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.79 $63.58
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.85 $71.71
Premium $4.65 $39.23 $78.47
Diesel $5.30 $44.71 $89.43

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Michigan · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Alpena and Farmington Hills. The current time is 13:47:07.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.