Origin
Denton, MI
Late night in Denton on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denton, MI to Ann Arbor, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
15.3 mi
25 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denton, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 15.3-mile drive from Denton to Ann Arbor takes about 21 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate along US 12 and South State Street, with a portion on Ecorse Road. With 68% of the route on highways and a fuel cost estimated at $2, this is an economical and efficient journey. The drive is focused on highway travel, so you won't need to plan for overnight stays. Both Denton and Ann Arbor are situated in the Midwest region of Michigan, offering a consistent regional feel throughout your short trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 10.4 mi | 11m |
| South State Street | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Ecorse Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Denton Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 10.4 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denton, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.
1
Start on Denton Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Denton Road
2
Turn right onto Ecorse Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Ecorse Road
3
Merge onto US 12
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
8.4 mi
·
8 min
·
US 12
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 177
Toward State Street
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn right onto South State Street
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
South State Street
Use the right lane.
7
Arrive at destination
South State Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 12.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Ecorse Road
Turn right onto Ecorse Road
Navigation decision point
3
1.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 12
Merge onto US 12
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
3.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward I 94 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
7
12.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward State Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 177
Toward State Street
5
12.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
South State Street
Turn right onto South State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.39 one way
$4.78 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.63 | $5.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.94 | $5.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.38 | $6.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.73 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night in Ann Arbor on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
21m 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 this route, with 68% of your journey on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.4 miles along US 12. This means you'll experience a good amount of time on higher-speed roads, interspersed with segments on local streets like South State Street and Ecorse Road. The character of the drive is practical and direct, designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.4 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and South State Street. You will hit about 5 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Ecorse Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 15.3 miles you will encounter 5 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 0.7 miles (Ecorse Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 3.8 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 15.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.4 miles on US 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.7 miles (Ecorse Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 3.8 miles (US 12): 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 Ann Arbor, 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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