Origin
Brighton, MI
Late night in Brighton on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brighton, 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
55m
Distance
44.6 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brighton, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick commute from Brighton to Detroit, you can expect a manageable 44.6-mile trip that typically takes about 43 minutes. This route serves as a perfect day trip, allowing you to transition easily from the Midwest suburban feel of Brighton into the heart of Detroit. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, it is an economical jaunt that requires no overnight stops. Because the entire journey is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around local traffic patterns. It is a straightforward connection between these two Michigan locations, making it a stress-free option for travelers looking to move between the city and the outskirts.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John C Lodge Freeway | 17.8 mi | 23m |
| I 96 | 14.9 mi | 15m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Spencer Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Larned Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodward Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cadillac Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John C Lodge Freeway
— 17.8 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brighton, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on East Grand River Avenue
50 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Grand River Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto Spencer Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Spencer Street
4
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-96 EAST: Detroit
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 23 North, I 96 East: Flint, Detroit
Use the slight left lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
7
Merge onto I 96
15 mi
·
15 min
·
I 96
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 696
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port Huron
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto M 10
18 mi
·
23 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 1B
Toward Larned Street, Downtown
Use the slight left lane.
11
Continue on West Larned Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Larned Street
12
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
14
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from Brighton, 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 1.4 and 43.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 23 North, I 96 East: Flint, Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 23 North, I 96 East: Flint, Detroit
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 East: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 96
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
26.1 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway
Merge onto M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.9 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
$6.97 one way
$13.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.66 | $15.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.58 | $17.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.85 | $19.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.68 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.90 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.24 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
3:28 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
6 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
55m 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 turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way out of Brighton via East Main Street and Spencer Street. Once you transition onto I-96 EAST, the pace shifts, though you should be prepared for a drive that lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches. Since this route features zero highway share in terms of long-distance cruising, you will spend more time navigating local road conditions than you might on a cross-country trek. The road's personality is functional and practical, requiring your full attention as you move through these interconnected Michigan corridors. This is not a monotonous interstate grind, but rather a dynamic drive that demands a bit more engagement from the driver.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.8 mi on John C Lodge Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John C Lodge Freeway and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 44.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.3 miles (I 96): 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.
On the drive from Brighton, MI to Detroit, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 5 East: Port Huron along the way.
M 5 East: Port Huron
17.2 mi in
|
~20m
|
via I 696
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 44.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.8 miles on John C Lodge Freeway. 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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.3 miles (I 96): 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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