Origin
Atlas, MI
Morning in Atlas on Tuesday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atlas, MI to Detroit, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
57.9 mi
93 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atlas, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 57.9-mile drive from Atlas, MI, to Detroit, MI, is a quick 1 hour and 12 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on I-75 South, with some time on North Ortonville Road and South State Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, this is an economical journey. The route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent Midwestern feel throughout. Given its short duration and manageable distance, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing for plenty of time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I-75 South | 39.7 mi | 43m |
| North Ortonville Road | 9.8 mi | 14m |
| South State Road | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Perry Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Congress Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Woodward Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Chrysler Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I-75 South
— 39.7 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlas, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Gale Road
18 ft
·
0 sec
·
Gale Road
2
Turn right onto Perry Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Perry Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto M 15
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
South State Road
4
Continue on M 15
9.8 mi
·
14 min
·
North Ortonville Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 75
40 mi
·
43 min
·
I-75 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
133 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chrysler Drive
10
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
449 ft
·
19 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
12
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
13
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.9 miles from Atlas, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 57.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
M 15 / South State Road
At end of road, turn right onto M 15 / South State Road
Navigation decision point
5
16.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Detroit
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
6
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward Jefferson Avenue East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
6
57.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
East Congress Street
Turn right onto East Congress Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.05 one way
$18.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.94 | $19.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.14 | $22.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.78 | $25.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.11 | $3.71 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Detroit, MI
Morning in Detroit on Tuesday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for this journey, with 70% of the drive on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 39.7 miles on I-75 South, providing a good opportunity to settle in. While largely an interstate cruise, you'll transition onto North Ortonville Road and South State Road, offering a slight variation in the driving environment before rejoining the main highway. This route prioritizes directness over scenic detours.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.7 mi on I-75 South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I-75 South and North Ortonville Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near M 15 / South State Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.9 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (M 15 / South State Road): Navigation decision point; at 16.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 56.3 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Detroit, MI
Full guide →Detroit is a major metropolis in the US state of Michigan that has had a profound impact on the world. From the advent of the automotive assembly line to the Motown sound, modern techno and rock music, Detroit continues to shape both American and global culture. The city has seen many of its historic buildings renovated, and is bustling with new developments and attractions that complement its world-class museums and theatres. After a long economic slump and decrease in population, Detroit has developed a reputation for crime and urban decline, but revitalization means that it is an exciting destination filled with technological advance and historic charm.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 57.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.7 miles on I-75 South. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Detroit, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (M 15 / South State Road): Navigation decision point; at 16.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 56.3 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Detroit, MI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Detroit, MI
More trips to Detroit, MI
Explore more options from Atlas, MI or browse trips ending in Detroit, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.