How far is Grand Rapids, MI from Skidway Lake, MI?

The driving distance from Grand Rapids, MI to Skidway Lake, MI is about 178.3 miles (286.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 117.4 miles (189 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
178.26 mi
03h 27m
Flight
117.41 mi
188.95 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Grand Rapids.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
117.41 mi
Kilometers
188.95 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
178.26 mi
Kilometers
286.88 km
Drive Time
03h 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 03h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Skidway Lake
Sat, Apr 18, 11:06 AM EDT
Return by in Grand Rapids
Sat, Apr 18, 2:34 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Grand Rapids
2026-04-18T07:39
Arrive Skidway Lake
Sat, Apr 18, 11:06 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:27 AM to 11:27 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:06 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Grand Rapids
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Tustin
MI

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

From Grand Rapids
89 mi
01h 43m
To Skidway Lake
89.2 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 16 mph SW
Destination
65°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Fulton Street West

    1431 ft · 59 sec · Fulton Street West

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Market Avenue Southwest

    943 ft · 34 sec · Market Avenue Southwest

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward US 131 North: Cadillac

    944 ft · 23 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    94.8 mi · 1 hr 36 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward M 55 East: Lake City

    2181 ft · 55 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right onto East M-55 Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · East M-55 Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on West Watergate Road

    4.6 mi · 6 min · West Watergate Road

  8. 8

    Continue on West Blue Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · West Blue Road

  9. 9

    Turn left onto South Morey Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · South Morey Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Lakeshore Drive

    1149 ft · 19 sec · Lakeshore Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on South Shore Drive

    688 ft · 12 sec · South Shore Drive

  12. 12

    Continue on Lake Shore Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · Lake Shore Drive

  13. 13

    Continue on Main Street

    2727 ft · 51 sec · Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Houghton Lake Road

    17.9 mi · 24 min · West Houghton Lake Road

  15. 15

    Continue on West Lake City Road

    3 mi · 4 min · West Lake City Road

  16. 16

    Continue on West Houghton Lake Drive

    8.9 mi · 13 min · West Houghton Lake Drive

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto West Branch Road

    31.3 mi · 34 min · West Branch Road

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward M 33: Alger

    2228 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Alger Road

    1.4 km · 1 min · Alger Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Brock Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Brock Road

  21. 21

    Continue on South M-33

    1 mi · 1 min · South M-33

  22. 22

    Turn right onto East Greenwood Road

    4.8 mi · 8 min · East Greenwood Road

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Greenwood Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 131 North
95 mi · 53%
West Branch Road
31.3 mi · 18%
West Houghton Lake Road
17.9 mi · 10%
West Houghton Lake Drive
8.94 mi · 5%
East Greenwood Road
4.75 mi · 3%
West Watergate Road
4.59 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

US 131 North

Merge slight left

94.8 mi · 01h 36m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.9 mi
117.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tustin
01h 43m from Grand Rapids
Leave By
10:06 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Grand Rapids and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Skidway Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 178.3 miles (286.9 km) and usually takes 03h 27m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Tustin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89 miles from Grand Rapids and 89.2 miles from Skidway Lake.

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

The direct path is about 117.4 miles (189 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.9 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:06 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.72 one way or $47.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Grand Rapids and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Skidway Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Tustin

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

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

BUS

Cadillac, Michigan

19 mi away
1202 North Mitchell St.
BUS

Reed City, Michigan

26 mi away
US 10 & 220th Ave.
BUS

Manton, Michigan

34 mi away
Junction U.S. 131 & M-42
BUS

Big Rapids, Michigan

45 mi away
14342 Northland Dr.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Grand Rapids and Skidway Lake. Straight-line distance: 117.41 mi (188.95 km).

Grand Rapids

#1 Grand Rapids

The second most populous city in Michigan.

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

#2 Skidway Lake

Unincorporated community in Michigan

Population3,392
Coordinates44.1833500, -84.0352700
Altitude243
CountryUnited States
Start: Grand Rapids (-85.66809, 42.96336)
End: Skidway Lake (-84.03527, 44.18335)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 287 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.29 gal
23.81 L · about $23.72
Round trip
$47.44
12.58 gal · 47.62 L
Estimated CO2
55.9 kg one way
Round trip: 111.8 kg / 246 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.72 $47.44
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.75 $53.50
Premium $4.65 $29.27 $58.55
Diesel $5.30 $33.36 $66.72

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Grand Rapids and Skidway Lake. The current time is 07:39:51.

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.