How far is Carleton, MI from Lansing, MI?

The driving distance from Carleton, MI to Lansing, MI is about 97.8 miles (157.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 75.5 miles (121.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
97.83 mi
01h 31m
Flight
75.47 mi
121.46 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Carleton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
75.47 mi
Kilometers
121.46 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
97.83 mi
Kilometers
157.44 km
Drive Time
01h 31m

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 01h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lansing
Tue, May 5, 2:26 AM EDT
Return by in Carleton
Tue, May 5, 3:57 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Carleton
2026-05-05T00:55
Arrive Lansing
Tue, May 5, 2:26 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:31 AM to 11:31 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:28 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Carleton
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Brighton
MI

Suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States

From Carleton
48.3 mi
00h 45m
To Lansing
49.5 mi
00h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 mph WSW
Destination
57°F
Tuesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Carleton and Lansing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carleton and Lansing.

  1. 1

    Start on Monroe Street

    2875 ft · 2 min · Monroe Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Grafton Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Grafton Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Will Carleton Road

    87 m · 5 sec · Will Carleton Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Will Carleton Drive

    1530 ft · 31 sec · Will Carleton Drive

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward I 275 North: Flint

    2245 ft · 55 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    38.9 mi · 42 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    8.6 mi · 9 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    38.9 mi · 42 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing

    1.1 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Ransom E Olds Freeway

    2.8 mi · 3 min · Ransom E Olds Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Ransom E Olds Freeway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Ransom E Olds Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    1488 ft · 38 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto South Walnut Street

    2269 ft · 1 min · South Walnut Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Allegan Street

    126 m · 12 sec · West Allegan Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Townsend Street

    7 m · 1 sec · Townsend Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Townsend Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Carleton and Lansing.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 275 North
86.8 mi · 89%
Ransom E Olds Freeway
5.26 mi · 5%
Grafton Road
2.37 mi · 2%
I 496
0.69 mi · 1%
Monroe Street
0.54 mi · 1%
South Walnut Street
0.43 mi
Longest Stretch

I 275 North

Merge slight left

38.9 mi · 00h 42m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 31m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.3 mi
75.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brighton
00h 45m from Carleton
Leave By
3:28 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Carleton and Rain Showers Likely near Lansing.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Carleton to Lansing?

The road trip is about 97.8 miles (157.4 km) and usually takes 01h 31m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Brighton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 48.3 miles from Carleton and 49.5 miles from Lansing.

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

The direct path is about 75.5 miles (121.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:28 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.01 one way or $26.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Carleton and Rain Showers Likely near Lansing.

Stop Ideas Near Brighton

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

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

RAIL

Ann Arbor station

27 mi away
325 Depot Street
RAIL

Pontiac Transportation Center

42 mi away
51000 Woodward Avenue
RAIL

Durand Union Station

45 mi away
200 South Railroad St.
RAIL

Troy Transit Center

48 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Carleton and Lansing. Straight-line distance: 75.47 mi (121.46 km).

Carleton

#1 Carleton

Village in Thayer County, Nebraska, United States

Population2,358
Coordinates42.0592100, -83.3907700
Altitude188
CountryUnited States
Lansing

#2 Lansing

The capital of Michigan and the county seat of Ingham County.

Population112,640
Coordinates42.7325300, -84.5555300
Altitude260
CountryUnited States
Start: Monroe Street (-83.390772, 42.059285)
End: West Allegan Street (-84.555529, 42.732588)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 157 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.45 gal
13.07 L · about $13.01
Round trip
$26.02
6.9 gal · 26.14 L
Estimated CO2
30.7 kg one way
Round trip: 61.3 kg / 135 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.01 $26.02
Mid-grade $4.25 $14.67 $29.35
Premium $4.65 $16.06 $32.11
Diesel $5.30 $18.30 $36.60

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 · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Carleton and Lansing. The current time is 00:55:06.

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.