How far is Rochester Hills, MI from Clare County, MI?

The driving distance from Rochester Hills, MI to Clare County, MI is about 156.2 miles (251.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 125.4 miles (201.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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
156.21 mi
02h 57m
Flight
125.38 mi
201.78 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rochester Hills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
125.38 mi
Kilometers
201.78 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
156.21 mi
Kilometers
251.39 km
Drive Time
02h 57m

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 02h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clare County
Thu, Apr 16, 12:24 AM EDT
Return by in Rochester Hills
Thu, Apr 16, 3:21 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rochester Hills
2026-04-15T21:26
Arrive Clare County
Thu, Apr 16, 12:24 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:58 AM to 12:58 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rochester Hills
9:30 PM EDT
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
Buena Vista
MI

Unincorporated community in Michigan, United States

From Rochester Hills
78 mi
01h 28m
To Clare County
78.2 mi
01h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Today

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 10:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
65°F
Wednesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rochester Hills and Clare County.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rochester Hills and Clare County.

  1. 1

    Start on Dickson Lane

    1164 ft · 53 sec · Dickson Lane

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Downhill Lane

    115 m · 18 sec · Downhill Lane

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Dressler Lane

    60 m · 14 sec · Dressler Lane

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South Livernois Road

    1426 ft · 27 sec · South Livernois Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Hamlin Road

    5 m · 1 sec · West Hamlin Road

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto West Hamlin Road

    1 mi · 2 min · West Hamlin Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Crooks Road

    1860 ft · 38 sec · Crooks Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp right toward M 59 West: Pontiac

    2867 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    2.6 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 North: Flint

    2907 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    32.8 mi · 35 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw

    51.3 mi · 55 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 10 West: Midland

    1046 ft · 36 sec

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    11.3 mi · 11 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 10: Clare

    46.8 mi · 47 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward BUS US 127, M 61: Harrison, Gladwin

    1537 ft · 46 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on North Clare Avenue

    2.1 mi · 3 min · North Clare Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on East Park Street

    1951 ft · 42 sec · East Park Street

  19. 19

    Continue on 1st Street

    1963 ft · 41 sec · 1st Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · East Main Street

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 61

    1.9 mi · 3 min · State Highway 61

  22. 22

    Turn left onto North Coolidge Avenue

    2 mi · 8 min · North Coolidge Avenue

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Larch Road

    1003 ft · 49 sec · West Larch Road

  24. 24

    Turn left

    1638 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rochester Hills and Clare County.

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
25 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
51.3 mi · 33%
US 10
46.8 mi · 30%
I 75 North
33.4 mi · 21%
US 10 West
11.5 mi · 7%
M 59 West
3.18 mi · 2%
North Clare Avenue
2.05 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 75

Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw

51.3 mi · 00h 55m

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
02h 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.8 mi
125.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buena Vista
01h 28m from Rochester Hills
Leave By
12:34 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Rochester Hills and Rain Showers Likely near Clare County.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rochester Hills to Clare County?

The road trip is about 156.2 miles (251.4 km) and usually takes 02h 57m 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?

Buena Vista is a useful midpoint, sitting about 78 miles from Rochester Hills and 78.2 miles from Clare County.

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

The direct path is about 125.4 miles (201.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.8 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.78 one way or $41.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Rochester Hills and Rain Showers Likely near Clare County.

Stop Ideas Near Buena Vista

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Buena Vista and the surrounding midpoint area.
Old City Hall
Food stop 10.9 mi away

Old City Hall

Bay City , MI
814 Saginaw St, Bay City, MI 48708
Rating 4.5/5 660 reviews Fine dining restaurant,Bar,Restaurant
Bay City Hall
Meeting point 10.6 mi away

Bay City Hall

Bay City , MI
301 Washington Ave, Bay City, MI 48708
Rating 3.7/5 14 reviews City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Buena Vista.

BUS

Saginaw, MI

3 mi away
511 Johnson Street
BUS

Bay City, MI

20 mi away
1124 Washington Avenue
RAIL

Flint station

49 mi away
1407 South Dort Highway
BUS

Owosso, MI

52 mi away
109 Comstock Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rochester Hills and Clare County. Straight-line distance: 125.38 mi (201.78 km).

Rochester Hills

#1 Rochester Hills

A city in Oakland County, Michigan.

Population74,111
Coordinates42.6583700, -83.1499300
Altitude251
CountryUnited States
Clare County

#2 Clare County

County in Michigan, United States

Population30,771
Coordinates43.9878700, -84.8478400
Altitude371
CountryUnited States
Start: Rochester Hills (-83.14993, 42.65837)
End: Clare County (-84.84784, 43.98787)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 251 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.51 gal
20.87 L · about $20.78
Round trip
$41.56
11.02 gal · 41.74 L
Estimated CO2
49 kg one way
Round trip: 97.9 kg / 216 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.78 $41.56
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.43 $46.87
Premium $4.65 $25.64 $51.29
Diesel $5.30 $29.23 $58.45

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Rochester Hills and Clare County. The current time is 21:26:42.

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.