Origin
Detroit, MI
Late night in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Detroit, MI to Elba, 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 24m
Distance
66.8 mi
108 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Elba, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a quick trip from Detroit, Michigan, to Elba, Michigan? This 66.8-mile drive should take you about 1 hour and 24 minutes, making it a perfect option for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily be on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and Ortonville Road, with about 60% of your journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest trip is a modest $10. Given the short distance and duration, this route offers a straightforward and efficient way to get from point A to point B without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 39.9 mi | 43m |
| Ortonville Road | 9.7 mi | 14m |
| South State Road | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| Davison Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| South Oak Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| East Lippincott Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Monroe Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Elba Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 39.9 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Elba, 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
40 mi
·
43 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 91
Toward M 15: Clarkston, Davison
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto M 15
9.7 mi
·
14 min
·
Ortonville Road
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on M 15
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
South State Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto East Lippincott Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lippincott Boulevard
12
Turn left onto South Oak Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Oak Road
13
Enter roundabout onto South Oak Road
88 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Oak Road
14
Continue on South Oak Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Oak Road
15
Turn right onto Davison Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Davison Road
16
Turn right onto South Elba Road
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Elba Road
17
Arrive at destination
South Elba Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.4 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 41.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cadillac Square
Continue onto Cadillac Square toward M 3 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward M 3 North
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
8
40.8 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward M 15: Clarkston, Davison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 91
Toward M 15: Clarkston, Davison
6
41.2 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
M 15 / Ortonville Road
Turn right onto M 15 / Ortonville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.44 one way
$20.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.47 | $22.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.86 | $25.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.75 | $29.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20 | 0 | $7.01 | $3.21 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.35 | $4.28 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Elba, MI
Late night in Elba on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
1h 24m 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?
This drive offers a mixed experience, blending highway cruising with more local road navigation. You'll spend a significant portion, around 60%, on faster highway sections, including a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 39.9 miles on the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. As you transition to roads like Ortonville Road and South State Road, expect the pace to slow slightly, with more local traffic and intersections. The profile suggests a varied drive that keeps things interesting without being overly demanding.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.9 mi on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cadillac Square.
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 66.8 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 0.1 miles (Cadillac Square): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
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 Detroit, MI and Elba, MI, road signs point toward M 15: Clarkston and Davison.
M 15: Clarkston
40.8 mi in
|
~46m
Davison
40.8 mi in
|
~46m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 66.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.9 miles on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. 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 0.1 miles (Cadillac Square): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elba, 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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