Origin
Benton, MI
Late night in Benton on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Benton, 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 3m
Distance
50.4 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Benton, MI
fish socks
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 50.4-mile drive from Benton, MI, to Detroit, MI, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 3 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on I-94 and the John C. Lodge Freeway, with a short section on West Michigan Avenue. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, this is a budget-friendly excursion within the Midwest region. The majority of this route, about 75% highway, offers a straightforward journey. Given its brevity and focus on main thoroughfares, it's ideal for a quick transition between locations without the need for an overnight stop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 34.5 mi | 38m |
| West Michigan Avenue | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| US 23 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| West Larned Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodward Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cadillac Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 34.5 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on US 12
11 mi
·
16 min
·
West Michigan Avenue
Use the left lane.
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
3
Merge onto US 23
0.9 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 23
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 94
35 mi
·
38 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 215A
Toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
8
Merge onto M 10
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 1B
Toward Larned Street, Downtown
Use the slight left lane.
10
Continue on West Larned Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Larned Street
11
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
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
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from Benton, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 49.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
8
12 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports
5
12.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
47.1 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 215A
Toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
8
49.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward Larned Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward Larned Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.88 one way
$15.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.65 | $17.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.13 | $22.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.06 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Denton, MI
25 mi in
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
19 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 3m 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 drive for most of this 50.4-mile journey, with 75% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-94 and the John C. Lodge Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 34.5 miles on I-94, offering a consistent pace. While there's a brief segment on West Michigan Avenue, the overall character is one of efficient travel on well-maintained roads. This means less time navigating local traffic and more time covering ground as you head toward Detroit.
75% 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: 34.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and West Michigan Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.5 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Benton, MI and Detroit, MI, road signs point toward Chicago, Airports and M 10 South: Downtown.
Chicago
11.8 mi in
|
~17m
Airports
12 mi in
|
~18m
M 10 South: Downtown
47.1 mi in
|
~57m
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 3m. Total distance: 50.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.5 miles on I 94. 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 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.5 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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