How far is Lansing, MI from Clarkston, MI?

The driving distance from Lansing, MI to Clarkston, MI is about 73.8 miles (118.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 57.7 miles (92.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST.
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
73.73 mi
01h 25m
Flight
57.69 mi
92.84 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lansing.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
57.69 mi
Kilometers
92.84 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
73.73 mi
Kilometers
118.65 km
Drive Time
01h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clarkston
Sun, Nov 8, 7:05 AM EST
Return by in Lansing
Sun, Nov 8, 8:30 AM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lansing
2026-11-08T05:39
Arrive Clarkston
Sun, Nov 8, 7:05 AM EST
Route Timing
01h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:26 AM to 11:26 AM EST

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

Leave by
3:38 PM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lansing
9:30 PM EST
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
Lennon
MI

Village in the United States, Michigan

From Lansing
36.8 mi
00h 42m
To Clarkston
36.9 mi
00h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Nov 8 6:00 AM EST
Wind
10 to 16 mph WSW
Destination
32°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Sun, Nov 8 12:00 AM EST
Wind
6 to 9 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Townsend Street

    7 m · 3 sec · Townsend Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Allegan Street

    861 ft · 32 sec · West Allegan Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Washington Square South

    103 m · 12 sec · Washington Square South

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward East Michigan Avenue

    6 m · 1 sec · East Michigan Avenue

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto East Michigan Avenue

    2002 ft · 1 min · East Michigan Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Larch Street

    2639 ft · 1 min · North Larch Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto East Saginaw Street

    1.9 mi · 4 min · East Saginaw Street

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on East Saginaw Street

    5 mi · 8 min · East Saginaw Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Saginaw Highway

    1.1 km · 1 min · Saginaw Highway

  10. 10

    Take the ramp straight

    1136 ft · 28 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    38 mi · 39 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75, US 23: Saginaw, Detroit

    1999 ft · 49 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 75 South, US 23 South: Detroit

    1919 ft · 47 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    1.9 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    23 mi · 25 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward M 15: Davison, Clarkston

    2174 ft · 57 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    3270 ft · 1 min · North Main Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto East Washington Street

    26 m · 3 sec · East Washington Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Street

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
25.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Saginaw Highway
38.9 mi · 53%
I 75 South
25.3 mi · 34%
East Saginaw Street
6.98 mi · 9%
North Main Street
0.62 mi · 1%
North Larch Street
0.5 mi · 1%
M 15
0.41 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Saginaw Highway

Keep slight right

38 mi · 00h 39m

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 25m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.1 mi
57.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lennon
00h 42m from Lansing
Leave By
3:38 PM EST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Lansing and Mostly Clear near Clarkston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 73.8 miles (118.7 km) and usually takes 01h 25m 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?

Lennon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 36.8 miles from Lansing and 36.9 miles from Clarkston.

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

The direct path is about 57.7 miles (92.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:38 PM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.11 one way or $22.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 23.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Lansing and Mostly Clear near Clarkston.

Stop Ideas Near Lennon

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

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

RAIL

Durand Union Station

9 mi away
200 South Railroad St.
BUS

Owosso, MI

20 mi away
109 Comstock Street
RAIL

Flint station

23 mi away
1407 South Dort Highway
BUS

Saginaw, MI

50 mi away
511 Johnson Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lansing and Clarkston. Straight-line distance: 57.69 mi (92.84 km).

Lansing

#1 Lansing

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

Population112,640
Coordinates42.7325300, -84.5555300
Altitude260
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Clarkston

Clarkston is a place in Michigan, United States.

Population0
Coordinates42.7358600, -83.4188300
Altitude306
CountryUnited States
Start: Lansing (-84.55553, 42.73253)
End: Clarkston (-83.41883, 42.73586)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 119 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.6 gal
9.85 L · about $11.11
Round trip
$22.22
5.2 gal · 19.7 L
Estimated CO2
23.1 kg one way
Round trip: 46.2 kg / 102 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.27 $11.11 $22.22
Mid-grade $4.96 $12.91 $25.81
Premium $5.56 $14.45 $28.90
Diesel $6.58 $17.11 $34.22

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 · Nov 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Lansing and Clarkston. The current time is 05:39:21.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.