How far is Elmwood, MI from Lansing, MI?

The driving distance from Elmwood, MI to Lansing, MI is about 480.5 miles (773.3 km), with a travel time of about 07h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 322.7 miles (519.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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
480.49 mi
07h 39m
Flight
322.72 mi
519.37 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elmwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
322.72 mi
Kilometers
519.37 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
480.49 mi
Kilometers
773.28 km
Drive Time
07h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lansing
Sun, Apr 19, 8:08 PM EDT
Return by in Elmwood
Mon, Apr 20, 2:48 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elmwood
2026-04-19T11:28
Arrive Lansing
Sun, Apr 19, 7:08 PM CDT
Route Timing
07h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:40 PM to 4:10 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
8:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elmwood
8:00 PM CDT
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
Saint Ignace
MI

City in Michigan, USA

From Elmwood
240 mi
03h 50m
To Lansing
240.5 mi
03h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
36°F
Sunday

Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NW
Destination
45°F
Sunday

Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 16 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Federal Forest Highway 16

    4.9 mi · 9 min · Federal Forest Highway 16

  2. 2

    Turn left

    28.9 mi · 35 min

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North 5th Street

    116 m · 12 sec · North 5th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Superior Avenue

    12.8 mi · 19 min · Superior Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right

    6 mi · 7 min

  6. 6

    Turn left

    41.2 mi · 56 min

  7. 7

    Turn left onto C Road

    1232 ft · 21 sec · C Road

  8. 8

    Turn right onto 17th Road

    3.9 mi · 6 min · 17th Road

  9. 9

    Continue on G Road

    1.5 km · 1 min · G Road

  10. 10

    Continue on 18th Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · 18th Road

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn left onto I Road

    1237 ft · 19 sec · I Road

  12. 12

    Continue on 18th Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · 18th Road

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn right onto County 426 M.5 Road

    2005 ft · 55 sec · County 426 M.5 Road

  14. 14

    Continue on County Road 426 M.5 Road

    2894 ft · 1 min · County Road 426 M.5 Road

  15. 15

    Turn right onto US-2/US-41/M-35

    639 ft · 12 sec · US-2/US-41/M-35

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight left toward US 2 East, US 41 North, M 35 North

    57 m · 6 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight right onto US-2/US-41/M-35

    45.1 mi · 54 min · US-2/US-41/M-35

  18. 18

    Continue on West Lakeshore Drive

    88.4 mi · 1 hr 44 min · West Lakeshore Drive

  19. 19

    Continue on US 2

    3.2 mi · 4 min · US 2

  20. 20

    Continue on US-2 West

    2455 ft · 46 sec · US-2 West

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge

    1819 ft · 44 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    94.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on US 127: Clare, Lansing

    137.3 mi · 2 hr 20 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 496 West: Downtown Lansing

    3233 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto Ransom E Olds Freeway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Ransom E Olds Freeway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    1488 ft · 38 sec

  27. 27

    Turn right onto South Walnut Street

    2269 ft · 1 min · South Walnut Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto West Allegan Street

    126 m · 12 sec · West Allegan Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Townsend Street

    7 m · 1 sec · Townsend Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Townsend Street

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 127
137 mi · 29%
I 75 South
94.4 mi · 20%
West Lakeshore Drive
88.4 mi · 18%
US-2/US-41/M-35
45.2 mi · 9%
Superior Avenue
12.8 mi · 3%
18th Road
7.85 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US 127

Keep slight right to continue on US 127: Clare, Lansing

137 mi · 02h 20m

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 39m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+157.8 mi
322.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saint Ignace
03h 50m from Elmwood
Leave By
8:40 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Snow Showers leaving Elmwood and Chance Snow Showers near Lansing.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 480.5 miles (773.3 km) and usually takes 07h 39m 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?

Saint Ignace is a useful midpoint, sitting about 240 miles from Elmwood and 240.5 miles from Lansing.

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

The direct path is about 322.7 miles (519.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 157.8 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 CDT. 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 $63.92 one way or $127.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 150.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Elmwood and Lansing, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Snow Showers around Elmwood and Chance Snow Showers near Lansing.

Stop Ideas Near Saint Ignace

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

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

BUS

St. Ignace, Michigan

448 North State St.
BUS

Mackinaw City, Michigan

9 mi away
102 South Huron Ave.
BUS

Cheboygan, MI

32 mi away
309 East State Street
BUS

Pellston, Michigan

35 mi away
110 North US Highway 131

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elmwood and Lansing. Straight-line distance: 322.72 mi (519.37 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Elmwood

Township in Tuscola County, Michigan

Population1,134
Coordinates46.2221700, -88.9098600
Altitude495
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: Federal Forest Highway 16 (-88.909921, 46.222118)
End: West Allegan Street (-84.555529, 42.732588)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 773 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.95 gal
64.18 L · about $63.92
Round trip
$127.84
33.9 gal · 128.36 L
Estimated CO2
150.6 kg one way
Round trip: 301.3 kg / 664 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $63.92 $127.84
Mid-grade $4.25 $72.09 $144.18
Premium $4.65 $78.89 $157.77
Diesel $5.30 $89.90 $179.81

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Elmwood, MI and Lansing, MI. The current time in Elmwood is 11:28:16, although it is 12:28:16 in Lansing.

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.