Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Auburn Hills, 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

39m

Distance

32.2 mi

52 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 37m ★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Auburn Hills, MI, MI

Auburn Hills, MI

fish socks

Downtown Detroit, MI, MI

Detroit, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Auburn Hills to Detroit is a straightforward 32.2-mile journey that typically takes about 39 minutes. Because this is a short, highway-focused trip within the Midwest, it is perfectly suited for a single day of travel. You can expect to spend roughly $5 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly commute or quick getaway. Since the entire route stays within Michigan, you won't need to worry about changing time zones or crossing state lines. It is an efficient path that connects the northern suburbs directly into the heart of the city.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 27.6 mi 30m
North Opdyke Road 1.4 mi 2m
South Lapeer Road 0.7 mi 1m
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway 0.7 mi 1m
East Congress Street 0.5 mi 1m
Shimmons Road 0.3 mi 1m
University Drive 0.2 mi <1m
Woodward Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 27.6 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Auburn Hills, MI and Detroit, MI.

1

Start on Shimmons Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Shimmons Road
2

Continue

280 ft · 16 sec
3

Turn right onto I 75 BL

0.2 mi · 24 sec · South Lapeer Road
4

Continue on I 75 BL

0.5 mi · 54 sec · South Lapeer Road
Use the left lane.
5

Turn slight left onto North Opdyke Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Opdyke Road
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
6

Turn sharp left onto University Drive

0.2 mi · 23 sec · University Drive
Use the left lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 20 sec
Toward I 75 South: Detroit Use the right lane.
8

Merge onto I 75

28 mi · 30 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 375

0.7 mi · 1 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue East Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive

133 ft · 8 sec · Chrysler Drive
12

Turn right onto East Congress Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
13

Turn right onto Woodward Avenue

449 ft · 19 sec · Woodward Avenue
14

Turn right onto Cadillac Square

126 ft · 4 sec · Cadillac Square
15

Arrive at destination

Cadillac Square

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 31.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
2.6 mi into trip | ~5m in | University Drive

Turn sharp left onto University Drive

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Detroit

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 75 South: Detroit
6
30.6 mi into trip | ~36m 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
31.3 mi into trip | ~37m 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
31.6 mi into trip | ~37m in | East Congress Street

Turn right onto East Congress Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.03 one way

$10.07 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $5.53 $11.05
premium $4.89 $6.20 $12.39
diesel $5.61 $7.11 $14.22

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.7 0 $3.38 $1.55
Efficient EV 8.1 0 $2.82 $1.29
EV Truck/SUV 12.9 0 $4.51 $2.06

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Auburn Hills, MI

Morning in Auburn Hills on Sunday

Local time

7:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy

SE 3 to 9 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Dense Fog Advisory

Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 11:05AM EDT until April 17 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:27AM EDT until April 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Destination

Detroit, MI

Morning in Detroit on Sunday

Local time

7:33 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

18 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

39m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is dominated by an 88% highway share, offering a consistent and fast-paced experience behind the wheel. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-75, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 27.6 miles. While you begin by navigating local connectors like North Opdyke Road and South Lapeer Road, the character of the drive quickly shifts once you merge onto the interstate. Expect a standard, high-speed transit experience that prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads or scenic detours.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.6 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and North Opdyke Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near University Drive.

Driving Effort 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 32.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (University Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

979 ft 598 ft

Total Climb

86 ft

Total Descent

449 ft

Highest Point

979 ft

~1.3 mi in

Elevation Range

381 ft

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 32.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

39m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.6 miles on I 75. 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 2.6 miles (University Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Detroit, MI

Ontonagon, MI 575.4 mi · 10h 55m Allouez, MI 569.6 mi · 11h Boston, MI 559.6 mi · 10h 46m Ford River, MI 441.1 mi · 8h 5m

More from Auburn Hills, MI

Flint, MI 38.3 mi · 44m Macomb, MI 14.5 mi · 26m

More trips to Detroit, MI

Plymouth, MI 590.5 mi Wyandotte, MI 567.7 mi Laurium, MI 566.7 mi Sagola, MI 493.1 mi Republic, MI 489.2 mi Norway, MI 477.3 mi
Scenic drives in MI

Explore more options from Auburn Hills, MI or browse trips ending in Detroit, MI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.