How Much Does Gas Cost to Drive From Michigan to Anywhere? [Interactive Map]

Planning a road trip from Michigan? Before you pack the car, you probably want to know one thing: how much is this going to cost in gas? We built an interactive map that answers that question for every single state — at a glance.

Unlike most gas calculators that use a single national average, this map uses each state’s actual current gas price for the miles you drive through it. The result is a more accurate, more honest look at what your trip will really cost.

Hover over any state to see the total miles, drive time, gas price, full cost, and a route breakdown showing every state you pass through.

How We Calculated This

A few things worth knowing before you read the numbers:

• Vehicle: 20 MPG — a reasonable average for most cars and SUVs
• Routes: Actual driving routes, not straight-line distance
• Destination: Geographic center city of each state
• Gas prices: Each state’s own AAA average — not a national average
• Data source: AAA Gas Prices, March 2026
• Direction: One way from Lansing, Michigan

This means the cost you see for California uses California’s gas price, not Michigan’s. The cost for Oklahoma uses Oklahoma’s cheap gas. That’s what makes this different.

Quick Highlights

• Closest and cheapest: Ohio at just $46 one way
• Most expensive: California at $491 — far AND expensive gas
• Best value for distance: Oklahoma at $178 despite being over 900 miles — cheap gas saves you
• Surprise: Washington State hits $417 — nearly as expensive as California but fewer people expect it
• Sweet spot: Tennessee at $112 for a classic Michigan-to-Nashville road trip

How Long Does It Actually Take?

Gas cost is only half the equation. Before you commit to a road trip, you also need to know how many hours you’re actually sitting in that car. We mapped that too.

Times are rounded up to the next 5 minutes and reflect direct routes with no traffic. Real world drive times will vary — budget extra time for stops, construction, and the inevitable “we need gas” moment 30 miles before the exit 😄

Plan Your Trip at a Glance — Gas Cost & Drive Time from Michigan to Every State

Sorted by cost, lowest to highest. All prices one way.

State	Gas Cost	Drive Time	Miles	Gas Price There
Ohio	$46	3h 24m	231	$3.91
Indiana	$52	3h 45m	255	$4.08
Illinois	$68	5h	327	$4.23
Kentucky	$86	6h 33m	430	$3.75
West Virginia	$94	7h 18m	480	$3.81
Wisconsin	$98	7h 18m	499	$3.67
Iowa	$106	8h 8m	549	$3.31
Tennessee	$112	8h 14m	569	$3.64
Maryland	$112	8h 18m	564	$4.00
Pennsylvania	$108	8h 1m	547	$3.95
Virginia	$116	9h 12m	595	$3.89
New York	$133	9h 45m	674	$3.92
Missouri	$127	9h 45m	640	$3.44
Delaware	$132	10h 17m	667	$3.83
North Carolina	$131	10h 21m	672	$3.78
New Jersey	$144	10h 33m	729	$3.88
Connecticut	$153	11h 41m	775	$3.93
South Carolina	$150	11h 59m	775	$3.68
Alabama	$151	11h 36m	780	$3.64
Minnesota	$142	11h 1m	747	$3.45
Georgia	$163	12h 58m	858	$3.64
Mississippi	$168	12h 34m	868	$3.56
Massachusetts	$166	12h 34m	845	$3.78
Arkansas	$167	12h 48m	852	$3.40
Kansas	$167	12h 41m	874	$3.28
Rhode Island	$166	12h	842	$3.79
Vermont	$165	13h 5m	840	$3.91
Nebraska	$161	13h 5m	875	$3.37
New Hampshire	$173	12h 53m	884	$3.75
Oklahoma	$178	13h 30m	941	$3.27
North Dakota	$187	14h 32m	1,008	$3.43
South Dakota	$185	14h 20m	1,005	$3.41
Louisiana	$205	16h 15m	1,057	$3.59
Maine	$213	16h 15m	1,096	$3.83
Florida	$226	17h 38m	1,195	$3.90
Texas	$247	19h 25m	1,337	$3.61
Colorado	$240	19h	1,303	$3.91
Montana	$277	21h 36m	1,487	$3.68
New Mexico	$282	21h 42m	1,515	$3.80
Wyoming	$261	20h 42m	1,430	$3.78
Idaho	$341	27h	1,821	$4.22
Utah	$309	24h	1,650	$4.04
Arizona	$372	28h	1,940	$4.62
Nevada	$381	29h	1,982	$4.83
Oregon	$430	32h	2,209	$4.87
Washington	$417	31h	2,174	$5.30
California	$491	34h	2,365	$5.83
Alaska	$856	~64h	3,859	varies*

Want to save even more on your Michigan road trip? Check out our Michigan Travel Deals & Discounts guide for free admission passes, library perks, and more ways to stretch your budget.

*Alaska gas price varies significantly by community along the route. See Alaska section below.

Alaska: The Special Case

Yes, you can drive to Alaska from Michigan — but it’s a serious undertaking and a completely different kind of trip.

• Total miles: 3,859 one way
• Drive time: Approximately 64 hours
• Passport required: You pass through 4 Canadian provinces
• Route: Michigan → Indiana → Illinois → Wisconsin → Minnesota → North Dakota → Saskatchewan → Alberta → British Columbia → Yukon → Alaska
• Estimated gas cost: ~$856 one way (calculated using each province’s actual gas price, converted to USD)

British Columbia is the most expensive leg at $5.20/gallon equivalent — over 800 miles of it. The Canadian provinces are surprisingly reasonable overall, but the sheer distance is what drives the cost.

Also worth knowing: if you live in Michigan, you may be able to use an Enhanced Driver’s License instead of a passport to cross into Canada by land. Michigan is one of only five states that issues EDLs. Check with your local Secretary of State office for current requirements before you go.

What About Drive Time?

Drive times are included in the hover tooltips on the map and in the table above. A drive time map showing the same data visually is coming soon — we’ll add it to this article when it’s ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does each state show a different gas price?

Because gas actually costs different amounts in different states. California averages $5.83/gallon right now. Oklahoma averages $3.27. Using Michigan’s price for the whole trip would give you a completely inaccurate number for long-distance routes. We use the actual price in each state for the miles you drive there.

Why is the destination the center of the state and not a major city?

Using the geographic center of each state gives every state a consistent, fair, and defensible target. If we used major cities, some states would look cheaper or more expensive simply because their big city happens to be near the border. The center city puts everyone on equal footing.

Does this include the full round trip?

No — all numbers are one way. Double the cost for a round trip, though your actual return trip cost may vary slightly depending on gas prices when you travel.

Is 20 MPG realistic for my car?

It’s a reasonable average for a typical car or SUV on highway miles. If you drive a truck you might get 15 MPG, if you drive a smaller sedan you might get 30 MPG. To calculate your personal cost, take the miles shown for your destination, divide by your MPG, and multiply by the destination state’s gas price shown in the table.

How current are the gas prices?

Gas prices are from AAA’s state averages as of March 2026. Gas prices change daily — for the most current prices before your trip, check aaa.com/gas.

Plan Your Michigan Road Trip

Now that you know what gas will cost, start planning where to go. Check out our other Michigan road trip guides for ideas on where to stop, what to see, and how to stretch your budget on the road.

Ready to hit the road? Check out our premade road trip guides for inspiration on where to go next!