How far is Grand Rapids, MI from Lake Michigan Beach, MI?

The driving distance from Grand Rapids, MI to Lake Michigan Beach, MI is about 70.2 miles (113 km), with a travel time of about 01h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 62.5 miles (100.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 41m 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
70.23 mi
01h 20m
Flight
62.49 mi
100.56 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Grand Rapids.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
62.49 mi
Kilometers
100.56 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
70.23 mi
Kilometers
113.02 km
Drive Time
01h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Michigan Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 3:21 AM EDT
Return by in Grand Rapids
Sun, Apr 19, 4:42 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Grand Rapids
2026-04-19T02:00
Arrive Lake Michigan Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 3:21 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:21 AM to 11:21 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Grand Rapids
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
Gibson
MI

Township in Bay County, Michigan

From Grand Rapids
35.1 mi
00h 40m
To Lake Michigan Beach
35.1 mi
00h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
45°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 17 mph W
Destination
47°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
15 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan Beach.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan Beach.

  1. 1

    Start on Fulton Street West

    1431 ft · 59 sec · Fulton Street West

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Market Avenue Southwest

    2.5 mi · 6 min · Market Avenue Southwest

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward I 196 West: Holland

    793 ft · 19 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Gerald R Ford Freeway

    66.2 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Gerald R Ford Freeway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward M 63: Benton Harbor, Saint Joseph

    1638 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Hagar Shore Road

    133 m · 9 sec · Hagar Shore Road

  7. 7

    Turn left

    706 ft · 12 sec

  8. 8

    Turn slight left onto Roosevelt Street

    2060 ft · 2 min · Roosevelt Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Central Avenue

    124 m · 18 sec · Central Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    71 m · 10 sec · Washington Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Washington Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan Beach.

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
11 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Gerald R Ford Freeway
66.2 mi · 94%
Market Avenue Southwest
2.55 mi · 4%
Roosevelt Street
0.39 mi · 1%
M 63
0.31 mi
Fulton Street West
0.27 mi
I 196 West
0.15 mi
Longest Stretch

Gerald R Ford Freeway

Merge slight left onto Gerald R Ford Freeway

66.2 mi · 01h 11m

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 20m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.7 mi
62.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gibson
00h 40m from Grand Rapids
Leave By
3:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Snow Showers leaving Grand Rapids and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Lake Michigan Beach.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Grand Rapids to Lake Michigan Beach?

The road trip is about 70.2 miles (113 km) and usually takes 01h 20m 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?

Gibson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 35.1 miles from Grand Rapids and 35.1 miles from Lake Michigan Beach.

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

The direct path is about 62.5 miles (100.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.7 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 3:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.35 one way or $18.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Snow Showers around Grand Rapids and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Lake Michigan Beach.

Stop Ideas Near Gibson

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

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

RAIL

Holland station

11 mi away
171 Lincoln Ave.
RAIL

Bangor

44 mi away
541 Railroad St.
RAIL

Vernon J. Ehlers Station

50 mi away
431 Wealthy St. SW
RAIL

Kalamazoo Transportation Center

68 mi away
459 North Burdick St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan Beach. Straight-line distance: 62.49 mi (100.56 km).

Grand Rapids

#1 Grand Rapids

The second most populous city in Michigan.

Population200,031
Coordinates42.9633600, -85.6680900
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Lake Michigan Beach

#2 Lake Michigan Beach

Unincorporated community in Michigan

Population1,216
Coordinates42.2208700, -86.3694700
Altitude202
CountryUnited States
Start: Grand Rapids (-85.66809, 42.96336)
End: Lake Michigan Beach (-86.36947, 42.22087)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 113 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.48 gal
9.38 L · about $9.35
Round trip
$18.70
4.96 gal · 18.76 L
Estimated CO2
22 kg one way
Round trip: 44.1 kg / 97 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.35 $18.70
Mid-grade $4.25 $10.55 $21.09
Premium $4.65 $11.54 $23.08
Diesel $5.30 $13.15 $26.31

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 Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan Beach. The current time is 02:00:51.

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.