How far is Ann Arbor, MI from Ford River, MI?

The driving distance from Ann Arbor, MI to Ford River, MI is about 425.6 miles (685 km), with a travel time of about 07h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 289.4 miles (465.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
425.65 mi
07h 48m
Flight
289.44 mi
465.81 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ann Arbor.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
289.44 mi
Kilometers
465.81 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
425.65 mi
Kilometers
685.02 km
Drive Time
07h 48m

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 07h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ford River
Thu, Apr 23, 8:44 AM EDT
Return by in Ann Arbor
Thu, Apr 23, 4:32 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ann Arbor
2026-04-23T00:55
Arrive Ford River
Thu, Apr 23, 8:44 AM EDT
Route Timing
07h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:49 PM to 3:19 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
8:22 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ann Arbor
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Gaylord
MI

City in Michigan, United States

From Ann Arbor
212.7 mi
03h 54m
To Ford River
212.9 mi
03h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
58°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ann Arbor and Ford River.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor and Ford River.

  1. 1

    Start on South State Street

    1325 ft · 43 sec · South State Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Huron Street

    2058 ft · 1 min · East Huron Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward M 14 East, US 23: Flint, Detroit

    835 ft · 20 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  6. 6

    Keep left to continue on US 23 North: Flint

    94.7 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    62.9 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    117.6 mi · 2 hr 1 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba

    1913 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto US-2 West

    1.1 km · 1 min · US-2 West

  11. 11

    Continue on US 2

    3.2 mi · 4 min · US 2

  12. 12

    Continue on US-2 West

    134.6 mi · 2 hr 40 min · US-2 West

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto North Lincoln Road

    8.5 mi · 11 min · North Lincoln Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto 9.9 Lane

    26 m · 4 sec · 9.9 Lane

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 9.9 Lane

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ann Arbor and Ford River.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
15 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 23 North
275 mi · 65%
US-2 West
135 mi · 32%
North Lincoln Road
8.45 mi · 2%
US 2
3.55 mi · 1%
M 14 East
1.25 mi
North Main Street
1.24 mi
Longest Stretch

US-2 West

Continue on US-2 West

135 mi · 02h 40m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 48m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+136.2 mi
289.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gaylord
03h 54m from Ann Arbor
Leave By
8:22 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Ann Arbor and Partly Sunny near Ford River.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ann Arbor to Ford River?

The road trip is about 425.6 miles (685 km) and usually takes 07h 48m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Gaylord is a useful midpoint, sitting about 212.7 miles from Ann Arbor and 212.9 miles from Ford River.

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

The direct path is about 289.4 miles (465.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 136.2 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $56.64 one way or $113.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 133.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Ann Arbor and Partly Sunny near Ford River.

Stop Ideas Near Gaylord

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Gaylord, 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 Gaylord.

BUS

Boyne City, Michigan

34 mi away
1000 East Division St.
BUS

Walloon Lake, Michigan

34 mi away
Hwy 131 & Hwy 75
BUS

Petoskey, Michigan

45 mi away
301 West Mitchell St.
BUS

Alanson, MI

47 mi away
7640 Burr Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ann Arbor and Ford River. Straight-line distance: 289.44 mi (465.81 km).

Ann Arbor

#1 Ann Arbor

The most populous city in Washtenaw County, Michigan.

Population119,280
Coordinates42.2775600, -83.7408800
Altitude269
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Ford River

Human settlement in Delta County, Michigan, United States of America

Population1,993
Coordinates45.6794100, -87.1401300
Altitude178
CountryUnited States
Start: Ann Arbor (-83.74088, 42.27756)
End: Ford River (-87.14013, 45.67941)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 685 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.02 gal
56.86 L · about $56.64
Round trip
$113.28
30.04 gal · 113.72 L
Estimated CO2
133.5 kg one way
Round trip: 267 kg / 589 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $56.64 $113.28
Mid-grade $4.25 $63.88 $127.76
Premium $4.65 $69.90 $139.81
Diesel $5.30 $79.67 $159.33

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Ann Arbor and Ford River. The current time is 00:55:23.

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.