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Trip from Detroit, MI to Dryden, 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 15m

Distance

54.8 mi

88 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 10m ★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Detroit, MI, MI

Detroit, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Dryden, MI, MI

Dryden, MI

Roberto Gonzalez

Trip Overview

Embarking on the drive from Detroit, MI, to Dryden, MI, covers a modest 54.8 miles and is estimated to take around 1 hour and 15 minutes. This journey is well-suited as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll navigate primarily via M 53 and Walter P. Chrysler Freeway before transitioning to Dryden Road for the final approach. With a projected fuel cost of approximately $9, this short trip is an economical option. The route offers a straightforward transition within the Midwest region, making it a convenient local excursion.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
M 53 24.2 mi 30m
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway 16.4 mi 18m
Dryden Road 3.3 mi 8m
Metropolitan Parkway 3.3 mi 4m
Van Dyke Avenue 2.2 mi 3m
East Big Beaver Road 2 mi 3m
North Van Dyke Road 1.8 mi 2m
Monroe Street 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: M 53 — 24.2 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Cadillac Square

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Cadillac Square
2

Continue on Cadillac Square

97 ft · 3 sec · Cadillac Square
Toward M 3 North Use the left lane.
3

Turn slight left onto M 3

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Randolph Street
4

Turn right onto Monroe Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Monroe Street
Use the right lane.
5

At end of road, turn left onto Chrysler Drive

34 ft · 1 sec · Chrysler Drive
Use the left lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
7

Merge onto I 375

16 mi · 18 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Flint Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 67 Toward Rochester Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn right onto Rochester Road

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Rochester Road
Use the right lane.
10

Turn right onto East Big Beaver Road

2.0 mi · 3 min · East Big Beaver Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Continue on Metropolitan Parkway

3.1 mi · 4 min · Metropolitan Parkway
12

Continue on Metropolitan Parkway

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Metropolitan Parkway
Use the left lane.
13

Turn right onto M 53

2.2 mi · 3 min · Van Dyke Avenue
Use the right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto M 53

24 mi · 30 min · M 53
Toward M 53 North: Imlay City Use the right lane.
15

Turn left onto M 53

1.8 mi · 2 min · North Van Dyke Road
Use the straight lane.
16

Turn left onto Dryden Road

3.3 mi · 8 min · Dryden Road
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on East Main Street

526 ft · 14 sec · East Main Street
18

Arrive at destination

East Main Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Sterling Heights, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sterling Heights, MI

27 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.

Popular next leg

Sterling Heights, MI to Dryden, MI

31.1 mi · 44m

Pacing Suggestions

Royal Oak, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sterling Heights, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.4 miles from Detroit, 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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 25.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | Chrysler Drive

At end of road, turn left onto Chrysler Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

Merge onto I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway toward I 75 North: Flint

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 75 North: Flint
7
17.3 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward Rochester Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 67 Toward Rochester Road
6
17.7 mi into trip | ~22m in | Rochester Road

Turn right onto Rochester Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
25.4 mi into trip | ~34m in | M 53

Keep slight right at fork onto M 53 toward M 53 North: Imlay City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward M 53 North: Imlay City

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.57 one way

$17.13 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.41 $18.81
premium $4.89 $10.55 $21.09
diesel $5.61 $12.10 $24.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.4 0 $5.75 $2.63
Efficient EV 13.7 0 $4.79 $2.19
EV Truck/SUV 21.9 0 $7.67 $3.51

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Detroit, MI

Late night in Detroit on Sunday

Local time

3:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

WSW 12 mph 70% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:21PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued April 16 at 1:53PM EDT until April 17 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Destination

Dryden, MI

Late night in Dryden on Sunday

Local time

3:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°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

31 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

1h 15m 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 drive presents a mixed driving profile, with 36% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches on M 53 and Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, offering a more direct pace, interspersed with local road segments like Dryden Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 24.2 miles on M 53, providing a solid period of consistent travel. Expect the road character to shift as you move from more urban-influenced freeways to the quieter local roads closer to Dryden.

36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.2 mi on M 53.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 0.7 miles in near Chrysler Drive.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Chrysler Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

On the drive from Detroit, MI to Dryden, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 53 North: Imlay City along the way.

M 53 North: Imlay City

25.4 mi in | ~34m | via M 53

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 54.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 24.2 miles on M 53. 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 Dryden, 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 0.7 miles (Chrysler Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dryden, 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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