Origin
Attica, MI
Late night in Attica on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Attica, MI to Detroit, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
60.5 mi
97 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 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Attica, MI
Noland Live
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 60.5-mile drive from Attica, MI to Detroit, MI is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 22 minutes. It's a perfect day trip, requiring no overnight stops, and comes with a modest estimated fuel cost of $9. The route primarily utilizes local roads and freeways, offering a mixed driving experience as you travel south. Given both the origin and destination are within the Midwest region of Michigan, you'll be navigating familiar terrain. Plan for a simple, uncomplicated trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Van Dyke Road | 28.3 mi | 35m |
| South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Mound Road | 7.3 mi | 11m |
| I 69 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| South Lake Pleasant Road | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| 18 1/2 Mile Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Van Dyke Road
— 28.3 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Attica, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Williams Street
93 ft
·
9 sec
·
Williams Street
2
Turn left onto South Lake Pleasant Road
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Lake Pleasant Road
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 69 East: Port Huron
4
Merge onto I 69
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 69
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 168
Toward M 53: Imlay City, Almont
6
Turn right onto M 53
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Van Dyke Road
Use the right lane.
7
Turn right onto M 53
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
8
Continue on M 53
23 mi
·
27 min
·
Van Dyke Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 15
Toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West
Use the slight right lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto 18 1/2 Mile Road
184 ft
·
7 sec
·
18 1/2 Mile Road
11
Continue on 18 1/2 Mile Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
18 1/2 Mile Road
12
Turn straight onto Mound Road
7.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Mound Road
Use the right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto Mound Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Mound Road
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 696
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-696 West to I-75 South
Toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
Use the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 75
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
133 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chrysler Drive
23
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
449 ft
·
19 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
25
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
26
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 30.2 miles from Attica, 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 48.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward M 53: Imlay City, Almont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 168
Toward M 53: Imlay City, Almont
8
35.9 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West
7
44.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
Keep slight right at fork onto Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West toward I 696 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
8
48.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
8
48.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
I-696 West to I-75 South
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 South toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.46 one way
$18.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.39 | $20.77 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.64 | $23.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.36 | $26.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.47 | $3.87 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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
Late night in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
7 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 22m 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?
The character of this drive is largely a mixed bag, with a 31% share of highway driving. You'll encounter stretches on Van Dyke Road, South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, and Mound Road. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll experience is 28.3 miles on Van Dyke Road, offering a consistent pace for a good portion of your journey. Expect a blend of faster freeway sections and more controlled, local road driving as you approach Detroit.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.3 mi on Van Dyke Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.5 miles you will encounter 20 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 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.9 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Attica, MI and Detroit, MI, road signs point toward M 53: Imlay City, Almont, Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West, Port Huron and Flint - among others.
M 53: Imlay City
6.3 mi in
|
~9m
Almont
6.3 mi in
|
~9m
Van Dyke Road North
35.9 mi in
|
~47m
18 ½ Mile Road West
35.9 mi in
|
~47m
Port Huron
44.6 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Flint
48.5 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Toledo
48.7 mi in
|
~1h 6m
|
via I-696 West to I-75 South
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 60.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.3 miles on Van Dyke Road. 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 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.9 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): 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.
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