Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
17 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Garden City, MI
Thomas Renaud
Detroit, MI to Garden City, MI is 17 miles and takes about 29 minutes via Ford Road and Edsel Ford Freeway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest, specifically within Michigan, making it a straightforward local journey. It's a quick hop that requires minimal planning, perfect for a day trip or an easy commute. You'll primarily be on well-established roads, so expect standard urban driving conditions. This route is ideal if you're looking for a very brief drive with no overnight stays.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Road | 8.9 mi | 16m |
| Edsel Ford Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West Jefferson Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| McGraw Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Congress Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Griswold Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cadillac Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Garden City, MI.
Start on Cadillac Square
Turn right onto Bates Street
Turn right onto East Congress Street
Turn left onto Griswold Street
Turn right onto M 10
Continue on M 10
Take the exit
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Turn right onto Addison Street
Turn left onto McGraw Street
Continue on MI 153
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 7.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Bates Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Griswold Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto M 10 / West Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 94 West: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward M 153
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.66 one way
$5.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.92 | $5.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.27 | $6.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.75 | $7.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.49 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Afternoon in Garden City on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 38% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Ford Road, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 8.9 miles, which will likely feel like a local arterial road. The route also incorporates parts of the Edsel Ford Freeway and John C Lodge Freeway, indicating periods of faster, more direct travel. Expect a blend of city street navigation and quicker highway driving as you make your way across town. The character changes from more localized roads to faster freeways and back.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Bates Street.
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 17 miles you will encounter 9 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 (Bates Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Griswold Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (M 10 / West Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Detroit, MI to Garden City, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 153 along the way.
M 153
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 17 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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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