The Price of Traveling from Birmingham to Walled Lake, Michigan in Today's Gas Market
As gas prices fluctuate, it can be hard to know how much a trip will cost you before you hit the road. If you're planning a journey from Birmingham to Walled Lake in Michigan, there are a few different routes you can take, each with their own distances and cost of travel. In this article, we'll explore the different roadways between these two places, analyze the cost of each trip, and recommend the best route.
Route #1: Taking the I-696 West
One option for traveling from Birmingham, Michigan, to Walled Lake, Michigan, is to travel west on the I-696. Known as the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, the highway runs for 29.16 miles before converging onto I-275.
Traveling the I-696 comes with a cost. The state charges a $0.60 fee for each mile you use it. For example, if you're driving from Birmingham to Walled Lake, you will pay approximately $17.50 in toll fees alone. When factoring in gas prices, the total cost for this route would be around $19.00. At an average speed of 55 miles per hour, you can expect to arrive at your destination in about 32 minutes.
Route #2: Driving along W Maple Road
If you're interested in a more scenic route, driving along W Maple Road can provide a pleasant drive. This mode of transportation is typically a couple of miles longer than taking the I-696, with a total distance of approximately 15.9 miles. While this route may take a couple of more minutes than the I-696 in terms of time, it comes at a much cheaper expense.
The average price of a gallon of gas in Michigan is $2.91, so to travel along this route, it would cost you around $2.50. If you add the gas costs of this route, we end up with a total trip cost of about $4.50. The lengthier driving time will take roughly 40 minutes to arrive at your destination from Birmingham to Walled Lake.
Route #3: Hop on the M-10
Another option for traveling from Birmingham to Walled Lake is to take the I-696 West to the M-10. The M-10 is a major highway in Michigan, primarily known as the Lodge Freeway, that spans about 22.5 miles long due north towards M-59, where you'll merge and take the last 2 miles to reach Walled Lake.
The cost of driving on the M-10 is made up of hourly rate parking costs, making it a bit more expensive than W Maple Road. You can expect to pay roughly $18.20 when utilizing this route from Birmingham to Walled Lake. Adding in the gas prices, this route will cost about $20.70 in total. With an average speed of 55 miles per hour, you would take approximately 33-35 minutes to reach your destination - a mere 2-minute difference compared to the I-696.
Route #4: Taking the Haggerty Road
Lastly, the most direct, efficient, and cost-effective route to travel from Birmingham to Walled Lake is simply to take Haggerty Road. This route would run for about 9.8 miles, making it the shortest of the four routes presented.
The cost for taking Haggerty Road is relatively inexpensive. Based on current gas prices, you can expect to spend about $2.00 in fuel costs to travel this 10-mile route. Even if you were taking an average of 30 minutes to arrive at your destination due to stop lights and traffic, the total cost of the trip to Walled Lake would be around $4.50 - a saving compared to taking the I-696.
Our Recommended Route and Conclusion
Based on the four routes evaluated, if a straight shot is your preference, our recommended route would be to travel along Haggerty Rd. It may have a few more stoplights and take a bit longer, but it's the most cost-effective route and could help you save money on fuel and toll charges.
If time is of the essence, experienced drivers can take the strategically efficient I-696 route to arrive in Walled Lake within the shortest amount of time. However, convenience and speed will come at a higher cost compared to the Haggerty Rd route.
In conclusion, it's essential to factor in gas prices and additional fees such as tolls and parking costs when considering a road trip from Birmingham, Michigan, to Walled Lake, Michigan. While all four routes are equally viable options considering speed and distance, we hope that this article has provided valuable insight that could help you make a more informed decision on the route to take on your next trip.