How far is Rochester Hills, MI from Ludington, MI?

The driving distance from Rochester Hills, MI to Ludington, MI is about 249 miles (400.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 188.6 miles (303.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 05m 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
249.01 mi
04h 32m
Flight
188.67 mi
303.63 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rochester Hills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
188.67 mi
Kilometers
303.63 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
249.01 mi
Kilometers
400.74 km
Drive Time
04h 32m

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 04h 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ludington
Sat, May 2, 2:39 AM EDT
Return by in Rochester Hills
Sat, May 2, 7:12 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rochester Hills
2026-05-01T22:07
Arrive Ludington
Sat, May 2, 2:39 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:33 AM to 12:33 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:54 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rochester Hills
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
Saranac
MI

City in Ionia County, Michigan, United States of America

From Rochester Hills
124.3 mi
02h 16m
To Ludington
124.6 mi
02h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Friday

Areas Of Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
Ludington Weather
MI
Live fallback forecast
46°F
Friday
Using Amber as the closest live forecast in the Mason County weather hub.

Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rochester Hills and Ludington.

  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

    4.9 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron

    1372 ft · 33 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron

    1182 ft · 25 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 69 West: Lansing

    1 mi · 2 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Chevrolet-Buick Freeway

    42.7 mi · 43 min · Chevrolet-Buick Freeway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 127: Clare, Lansing

    2079 ft · 25 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    3256 ft · 40 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    1 km · 40 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    7.2 mi · 8 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 96 WEST: Grand Rapids

    1428 ft · 29 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96 WEST: Grand Rapids

    1.3 mi · 1 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    52.1 mi · 56 min

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on I 96 West, M 37 North: Muskegon

    36.9 mi · 40 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward US 31 North: Muskegon, Ludington

    2543 ft · 1 min

  26. 26

    Merge slight left

    55.9 mi · 58 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward US 31 Business: Ludington

    2596 ft · 1 min

  28. 28

    Turn left onto South Pere Marquette Highway

    3.2 mi · 5 min · South Pere Marquette Highway

  29. 29

    At the end of the road, turn left onto West US Highway 10

    3046 ft · 1 min · West US Highway 10

  30. 30

    Continue on East Ludington Avenue

    1.3 mi · 3 min · East Ludington Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn left

    34 m · 7 sec

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
15
6 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 96 WEST
90.6 mi · 36%
US 31 North
56.4 mi · 23%
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
42.7 mi · 17%
I 75 North
33.4 mi · 13%
US 127
8.81 mi · 4%
I 75
4.92 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US 31 North

Merge slight left

55.9 mi · 00h 58m

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
04h 32m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.4 mi
188.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saranac
02h 16m from Rochester Hills
Leave By
7:54 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Areas Of Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Rochester Hills and Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny near Ludington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rochester Hills to Ludington?

The road trip is about 249 miles (400.7 km) and usually takes 04h 32m 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?

Saranac is a useful midpoint, sitting about 124.3 miles from Rochester Hills and 124.6 miles from Ludington.

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

The direct path is about 188.6 miles (303.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.4 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 7:54 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.15 one way or $66.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Areas Of Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Rochester Hills and Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny near Ludington.

Stop Ideas Near Saranac

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

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

BUS

Rockford, Michigan

35 mi away
US 131 & 10 Mile Road NE
RAIL

Vernon J. Ehlers Station

38 mi away
431 Wealthy St. SW
BUS

Howard City, Michigan

56 mi away
130 North Ensley St.
RAIL

East Lansing station

63 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rochester Hills and Ludington. Straight-line distance: 188.67 mi (303.63 km).

Rochester Hills

#1 Rochester Hills

A city in Oakland County, Michigan.

Population74,111
Coordinates42.6583700, -83.1499300
Altitude251
CountryUnited States
Ludington

#2 Ludington

City in Mason County, Michigan, United States

Population8,096
Coordinates43.9552800, -86.4525800
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Start: Rochester Hills (-83.14993, 42.65837)
End: Ludington (-86.45258, 43.95528)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 401 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.79 gal
33.26 L · about $33.15
Round trip
$66.29
17.58 gal · 66.52 L
Estimated CO2
78.1 kg one way
Round trip: 156.2 kg / 344 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.15 $66.29
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.38 $74.77
Premium $4.65 $40.91 $81.82
Diesel $5.30 $46.62 $93.24

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 · May 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Rochester Hills and Ludington. The current time is 22:07:25.

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.