How far is Lansing, MI from Elmwood, MI?

The driving distance from Lansing, MI to Elmwood, MI is about 479.4 miles (771.5 km), with a travel time of about 09h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 322.7 miles (519.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
479.38 mi
09h 14m
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 Lansing.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
479.38 mi
Kilometers
771.48 km
Drive Time
09h 14m

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 09h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elmwood
Sun, Apr 19, 10:05 PM CDT
Return by in Lansing
Mon, Apr 20, 8:20 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lansing
2026-04-19T13:51
Arrive Elmwood
Sun, Apr 19, 11:05 PM EDT
Route Timing
09h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:15 PM to 3:45 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
5:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lansing
8:00 PM EDT
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 Lansing
239.5 mi
04h 37m
To Elmwood
239.9 mi
04h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
45°F
Sunday

Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 16 mph W
Destination
36°F
Sunday

Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.8 mi · 4 min · East Saginaw Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto North Homer Street

    157 m · 16 sec · North Homer Street

  9. 9

    Take the ramp straight toward US 127 North

    1188 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    136.3 mi · 2 hr 19 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    94.2 mi · 1 hr 38 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba

    1913 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto US-2 West

    1.1 km · 1 min · US-2 West

  14. 14

    Continue on US 2

    3.2 mi · 4 min · US 2

  15. 15

    Continue on US-2 West

    133.4 mi · 2 hr 38 min · US-2 West

  16. 16

    Turn right onto County Road 426 M.5 Road

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

  17. 17

    Continue on County 426 M.5 Road

    2005 ft · 1 min · County 426 M.5 Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 18th Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · 18th Road

  19. 19

    Continue on I Road

    1237 ft · 21 sec · I Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto 18th Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · 18th Road

  21. 21

    Continue on G Road

    1.5 km · 1 min · G Road

  22. 22

    Continue on 17th Road

    3.9 mi · 6 min · 17th Road

  23. 23

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

    1232 ft · 24 sec · C Road

  24. 24

    Turn right

    41.2 mi · 56 min

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    6 mi · 7 min

  26. 26

    Turn left

    12.8 mi · 19 min

  27. 27

    Turn right onto North 5th Street

    116 m · 12 sec · North 5th Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Crystal Avenue

    28.9 mi · 35 min · Crystal Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Federal Forest Highway 16

    4.9 mi · 9 min · Federal Forest Highway 16

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Federal Forest Highway 16

Car Route Details

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

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
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 127 North
231 mi · 48%
US-2 West
134 mi · 28%
Crystal Avenue
28.9 mi · 6%
18th Road
7.85 mi · 2%
C Road
6.19 mi · 1%
Federal Forest Highway 16
4.9 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 127 North

Merge slight left

136 mi · 02h 19m

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
09h 14m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+156.7 mi
322.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saint Ignace
04h 37m from Lansing
Leave By
5:30 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 479.4 miles (771.5 km) and usually takes 09h 14m 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 239.5 miles from Lansing and 239.9 miles from Elmwood.

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 156.7 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. 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 $63.77 one way or $127.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 150.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Lansing and Elmwood, 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 Lansing and Chance Snow Showers near Elmwood.

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 Lansing and Elmwood. Straight-line distance: 322.72 mi (519.37 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 Elmwood

Township in Tuscola County, Michigan

Population1,134
Coordinates46.2221700, -88.9098600
Altitude495
CountryUnited States
Start: Lansing (-84.55553, 42.73253)
End: Elmwood (-88.90986, 46.22217)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 771 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.91 gal
64.03 L · about $63.77
Round trip
$127.54
33.82 gal · 128.06 L
Estimated CO2
150.3 kg one way
Round trip: 300.6 kg / 663 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $63.77 $127.54
Mid-grade $4.25 $71.92 $143.84
Premium $4.65 $78.70 $157.40
Diesel $5.30 $89.69 $179.38

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 Lansing, MI and Elmwood, MI. The current time in Lansing is 13:51:04, although it is 12:51:04 in Elmwood.

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.