How far is Rochester Hills, MI from Big Rapids, MI?
The driving distance from Rochester Hills, MI to Big Rapids, MI is about 174.5 miles (280.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 37m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 137.8 miles (221.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 37m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Human settlement in Saginaw County, Michigan, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Rochester Hills and Big Rapids.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester Hills and Big Rapids.
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1
Start on Dickson Lane
1164 ft · 53 sec · Dickson Lane
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Downhill Lane
115 m · 18 sec · Downhill Lane
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3
Turn right onto Dressler Lane
60 m · 14 sec · Dressler Lane
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4
Turn left onto South Livernois Road
1426 ft · 27 sec · South Livernois Road
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5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Hamlin Road
5 m · 1 sec · West Hamlin Road
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6
Exit the roundabout onto West Hamlin Road
1 mi · 2 min · West Hamlin Road
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7
Turn left onto Crooks Road
1860 ft · 38 sec · Crooks Road
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8
Take the ramp right toward M 59 West: Pontiac
2867 ft · 1 min
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9
Merge slight left
2.6 mi · 3 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 75 North: Flint
2907 ft · 1 min
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11
Merge slight left
32.8 mi · 35 min
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12
Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw
37.8 mi · 40 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward M 46: Buena Vista, Sandusky
1287 ft · 45 sec
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14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward East Holland Avenue
4 m · 1 sec · East Holland Avenue
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15
Exit the roundabout onto East Holland Avenue
1099 ft · 16 sec · East Holland Avenue
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16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Holland Avenue
32 m · 6 sec · East Holland Avenue
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17
Exit the roundabout onto East Holland Avenue
1.1 mi · 1 min · East Holland Avenue
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18
Turn slight right onto East Remington Street
1.1 mi · 1 min · East Remington Street
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19
Turn left onto Sheridan Avenue
1.9 mi · 2 min · Sheridan Avenue
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20
Continue on Williams Street
2311 ft · 34 sec · Williams Street
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21
Turn left onto Gratiot Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · Gratiot Avenue
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22
Continue on Gratiot Road
11.4 mi · 13 min · Gratiot Road
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23
Continue on East Saginaw Street
3158 ft · 41 sec · East Saginaw Street
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24
Continue on North Saginaw Street
715 ft · 9 sec · North Saginaw Street
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25
Continue on Gratiot Road
4.1 mi · 5 min · Gratiot Road
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26
Continue on Saginaw Street
2661 ft · 1 min · Saginaw Street
-
27
Continue on West Saginaw Street
1.2 km · 2 min · West Saginaw Street
-
28
Continue on Gratiot Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · Gratiot Road
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29
Continue on East Monroe Road
5 mi · 7 min · East Monroe Road
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30
Continue on East Saginaw Street
1.6 km · 2 min · East Saginaw Street
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31
Continue on East Monroe Road
5.4 mi · 7 min · East Monroe Road
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32
Continue on East Washington Street
3137 ft · 1 min · East Washington Street
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33
Continue on West Washington Avenue
3042 ft · 1 min · West Washington Avenue
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34
Continue on West Monroe Road
2 mi · 3 min · West Monroe Road
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35
Take the exit slight right toward US 127 NORTH: Clare
12.8 mi · 13 min
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36
Take the exit slight left toward US 127 Business: Mount Pleasant
1.9 mi · 2 min · Business US-127
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37
Continue on South Mission Street
1.1 km · 1 min · South Mission Street
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38
Turn left onto East Broomfield Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · East Broomfield Street
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39
Continue on East Broomfield Road
2670 ft · 45 sec · East Broomfield Road
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40
Turn right onto South Lincoln Road
1 mi · 2 min · South Lincoln Road
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41
Turn left onto East Remus Road
14 mi · 19 min · East Remus Road
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42
Continue on 9 Mile Road
2.8 mi · 4 min · 9 Mile Road
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43
Continue on East Wheatland Avenue
1 km · 1 min · East Wheatland Avenue
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44
Continue on 9 Mile Road
3.6 mi · 5 min · 9 Mile Road
-
45
Continue on 70th Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · 70th Avenue
-
46
Continue on South Cass Street
1573 ft · 28 sec · South Cass Street
-
47
Continue on East Main Street
1.5 km · 2 min · East Main Street
-
48
Continue on Eleven Mile Road
7.4 mi · 10 min · Eleven Mile Road
-
49
Turn left onto McKinley Road
3.8 mi · 5 min · McKinley Road
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50
Continue on 157th Avenue
1.3 km · 1 min · 157th Avenue
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51
Turn left onto 15 Mile Road
2.1 mi · 3 min · 15 Mile Road
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52
Turn straight onto State Highway 20
2589 ft · 40 sec · State Highway 20
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53
Continue on Taft Road
1.5 km · 1 min · Taft Road
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54
Continue on South 3rd Avenue
1.2 km · 2 min · South 3rd Avenue
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55
Turn left onto Maple Street
2994 ft · 2 min · Maple Street
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56
Turn left
34 m · 10 sec
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57
Turn left
5 m · 1 sec
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58
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Rochester Hills and Big Rapids.
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.
I 75
Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw
37.8 mi · 00h 40m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy leaving Rochester Hills and Partly Sunny near Big Rapids.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Rochester Hills to Big Rapids?
The road trip is about 174.5 miles (280.9 km) and usually takes 03h 37m 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?
Shields is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.2 miles from Rochester Hills and 87.4 miles from Big Rapids.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 137.8 miles (221.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.7 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:44 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.23 one way or $46.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy around Rochester Hills and Partly Sunny near Big Rapids.
Stop Ideas Near Shields
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Shields.
Saginaw, MI
Bay City, MI
Owosso, MI
Flint station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Rochester Hills and Big Rapids. Straight-line distance: 137.78 mi (221.74 km).
#1 Rochester Hills
A city in Oakland County, Michigan.
| Population | 74,111 |
| Coordinates | 42.6583700, -83.1499300 |
| Altitude | 251 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Big Rapids
City in the U.
| Population | 10,408 |
| Coordinates | 43.6980800, -85.4836600 |
| Altitude | 284 |
| Country | United States |
End: Big Rapids (-85.48366, 43.69808)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 281 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 48m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 29m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 29m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 10m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $23.23 | $46.46 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $26.20 | $52.40 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $28.67 | $57.34 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $32.67 | $65.35 |
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 26, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.