How far is Ludington, MI from Clio, MI?

The driving distance from Ludington, MI to Clio, MI is about 172.8 miles (278.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 146.3 miles (235.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 02m 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
172.82 mi
03h 31m
Flight
146.31 mi
235.46 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ludington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
146.31 mi
Kilometers
235.46 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
172.82 mi
Kilometers
278.13 km
Drive Time
03h 31m

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 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clio
Fri, Jun 19, 4:09 PM EDT
Return by in Ludington
Fri, Jun 19, 7:40 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ludington
2026-06-19T12:37
Arrive Clio
Fri, Jun 19, 4:09 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:31 AM to 11:31 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
9:58 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ludington
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Farwell
MI

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

From Ludington
86.2 mi
01h 45m
To Clio
86.6 mi
01h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Ludington Weather
MI
Live fallback forecast
73°F
Juneteenth
Using Amber as the closest live forecast in the Mason County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Jun 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph WNW
Destination
74°F
Juneteenth

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Jun 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 14 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ludington and Clio.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ludington and Clio.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    21 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Ludington Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · West Ludington Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on East Ludington Avenue

    2597 ft · 1 min · East Ludington Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on West US Highway 10

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West US Highway 10

  5. 5

    Continue on East Ludington Avenue

    27.5 mi · 39 min · East Ludington Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right

    3 mi · 4 min

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East Washington

    59.9 mi · 1 hr 19 min · East Washington

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight left toward US 10 EAST: Midland, Bay City

    46.1 mi · 46 min

  9. 9

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

    2040 ft · 39 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    30.9 mi · 33 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward M 57: Clio, Montrose

    2135 ft · 57 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto West Vienna Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Vienna Road

  13. 13

    Continue on West Vienna Street

    2683 ft · 1 min · West Vienna Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto North Mill Street

    61 m · 6 sec · North Mill Street

  15. 15

    Turn right

    30 m · 9 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right

    44 m · 11 sec

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ludington and Clio.

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
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Washington
59.9 mi · 35%
US 10 EAST
46.1 mi · 27%
I 75 South
31.3 mi · 18%
East Ludington Avenue
28 mi · 16%
West US Highway 10
1.42 mi · 1%
West Vienna Road
1.34 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

East Washington

Turn left onto East Washington

59.9 mi · 01h 19m

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 31m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.5 mi
146.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Farwell
01h 45m from Ludington
Leave By
9:58 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ludington and Sunny near Clio.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ludington to Clio?

The road trip is about 172.8 miles (278.1 km) and usually takes 03h 31m 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?

Farwell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.2 miles from Ludington and 86.6 miles from Clio.

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

The direct path is about 146.3 miles (235.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.5 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 9:58 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.00 one way or $46.01 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ludington and Sunny near Clio.

Stop Ideas Near Farwell

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

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

BUS

Big Rapids, Michigan

52 mi away
14342 Northland Dr.
BUS

Reed City, Michigan

52 mi away
US 10 & 220th Ave.
BUS

Cadillac, Michigan

65 mi away
1202 North Mitchell St.
BUS

Howard City, Michigan

69 mi away
130 North Ensley St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ludington and Clio. Straight-line distance: 146.31 mi (235.46 km).

Ludington

#1 Ludington

City in Mason County, Michigan, United States

Population8,096
Coordinates43.9552800, -86.4525800
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Clio

#2 Clio

City in Michigan, United States

Population2,480
Coordinates43.1775300, -83.7341300
Altitude220
CountryUnited States
Start: Ludington (-86.45258, 43.95528)
End: Clio (-83.73413, 43.17753)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 278 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.1 gal
23.08 L · about $23.00
Round trip
$46.01
12.2 gal · 46.16 L
Estimated CO2
54.2 kg one way
Round trip: 108.4 kg / 239 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.00 $46.01
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.94 $51.89
Premium $4.65 $28.39 $56.78
Diesel $5.30 $32.35 $64.71

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 · Jun 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Ludington and Clio. The current time is 12:37:50.

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.