How far is Grand Rapids, MI from Lowell, MI?

The driving distance from Grand Rapids, MI to Lowell, MI is about 18.7 miles (30.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 16.6 miles (26.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
18.68 mi
00h 27m
Flight
16.62 mi
26.75 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Grand Rapids.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
16.62 mi
Kilometers
26.75 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
18.68 mi
Kilometers
30.06 km
Drive Time
00h 27m

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 00h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lowell
Sat, May 30, 2:34 AM EDT
Return by in Grand Rapids
Sat, May 30, 3:01 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Grand Rapids
2026-05-30T02:07
Arrive Lowell
Sat, May 30, 2:34 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:27 AM to 7:27 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Grand Rapids
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Forest Hills
MI

Neighborhood of Queens, New York City, New York, USA

From Grand Rapids
9.3 mi
00h 13m
To Lowell
9.4 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph ENE
Destination
73°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Grand Rapids and Lowell.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grand Rapids and Lowell.

  1. 1

    Start on Fulton Street West

    17 m · 10 sec · Fulton Street West

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Division Avenue North

    2034 ft · 1 min · Division Avenue North

  3. 3

    Continue on Division Avenue Northeast

    609 ft · 18 sec · Division Avenue Northeast

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Michigan Street Northeast

    71 m · 11 sec · Michigan Street Northeast

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 196 East: Lansing

    651 ft · 16 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Gerald R Ford Freeway

    3.9 mi · 4 min · Gerald R Ford Freeway

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    3170 ft · 38 sec

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward M 21: Lowell, Flint

    790 ft · 10 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on M 21 East: Lowell, Flint

    2404 ft · 59 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto Fulton Street East

    11.4 mi · 16 min · Fulton Street East

  11. 11

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Grand Rapids and Lowell.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
64.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Fulton Street East
11.4 mi · 61%
Gerald R Ford Freeway
4.48 mi · 24%
West Main Street
1.51 mi · 8%
M 21 East
0.46 mi · 2%
Division Avenue North
0.39 mi · 2%
M 21
0.15 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Fulton Street East

Turn straight onto Fulton Street East

11.4 mi · 00h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 27m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.1 mi
16.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Forest Hills
00h 13m from Grand Rapids
Leave By
7:36 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Grand Rapids and Sunny near Lowell.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Grand Rapids to Lowell?

The road trip is about 18.7 miles (30.1 km) and usually takes 00h 27m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Forest Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.3 miles from Grand Rapids and 9.4 miles from Lowell.

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

The direct path is about 16.6 miles (26.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.1 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.49 one way or $4.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Grand Rapids and Sunny near Lowell.

Stop Ideas Near Forest Hills

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Forest Hills and the surrounding midpoint area.
Former City Hall Site
Scenic stop 8.2 mi away

Former City Hall Site

Grand Rapids , MI
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Historical landmark
Grand Rapids City Hall
Meeting point 8.2 mi away

Grand Rapids City Hall

Grand Rapids , MI
300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Rating 4.0/5 17 reviews City Hall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Forest Hills.

RAIL

Vernon J. Ehlers Station

15 mi away
431 Wealthy St. SW
BUS

Rockford, Michigan

19 mi away
US 131 & 10 Mile Road NE
BUS

Howard City, Michigan

49 mi away
130 North Ensley St.
RAIL

Holland station

53 mi away
171 Lincoln Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Grand Rapids and Lowell. Straight-line distance: 16.62 mi (26.75 km).

Grand Rapids

#1 Grand Rapids

The second most populous city in Michigan.

Population200,031
Coordinates42.9633600, -85.6680900
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Lowell

#2 Lowell

City in Kent County, Michigan, United States

Population4,196
Coordinates42.9336400, -85.3419600
Altitude194
CountryUnited States
Start: Grand Rapids (-85.66809, 42.96336)
End: Lowell (-85.34196, 42.93364)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 30 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.66 gal
2.49 L · about $2.49
Round trip
$4.98
1.32 gal · 4.98 L
Estimated CO2
5.9 kg one way
Round trip: 11.7 kg / 26 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $2.49 $4.98
Mid-grade $4.25 $2.81 $5.61
Premium $4.65 $3.07 $6.14
Diesel $5.30 $3.50 $7.00

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Grand Rapids and Lowell. The current time is 02:07:30.

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.