Detroit, MI to Hubbard Lake, MI is 221.1 miles and takes about 4h 31m via Cadillac Square, Randolph Street, and Monroe Street, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region. With no highway driving, expect a more local feel as you make your way north. It's a straightforward, single-day trip if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the city to your destination without the need for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
110.5 miles from Detroit, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
79 mi
1h 22m
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
60 mi
1h 5m
State Highway 65
27.7 mi
32m
M 72
10.9 mi
13m
M 65
8.4 mi
9m
South Hubbard Lake Road
7 mi
26m
West Huron Road
6.3 mi
8m
North Hale Road
4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 79 mi, about 1h 22m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 118 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,496 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,726
Quietest
2 AM
~206 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Hubbard Lake, 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 NorthUse 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
60 mi·1 hr 5 min·Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Toward I 75 North: FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
52 mi·56 min·I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
27 mi·26 min·I 75; US 23
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward M 61: Standish, Gladwin
11
Turn right onto M 61
2.1 mi·3 min·M-61
12
Continue on M 61
0.6 mi·1 min·West Cedar Street
13
Turn left onto US 23
0.5 mi·1 min·North Main Street
14
Continue on US 23
6.3 mi·8 min·West Huron Road
15
Continue on US 23
0.6 mi·1 min·West Center Road
16
Continue on US 23
2.0 mi·2 min·East Huron Road
17
Turn left onto M 65
4.0 mi·4 min·North Hale Road
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on M 65
1.1 mi·1 min·State Street
19
Continue on M 65
2.9 mi·3 min·Hale Road
20
Continue on M 65
4.5 mi·5 min·State Highway 65
21
Continue on M 65
1.0 mi·1 min·South Bullock Street
22
Continue on M 65
4.5 mi·5 min·State Highway 65
23
Continue on M 65
4.4 mi·5 min·M 65
24
Continue on M 65
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 65
25
Continue on M 65
4.0 mi·4 min·M 65
26
Continue on M 65
11 mi·12 min·State Highway 65
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on M 65
1.5 mi·1 min·Baker Road
28
Continue on M 65
3.2 mi·3 min·South State Road
29
Continue on M 65
6.3 mi·7 min·State Highway 65
30
Turn right onto M 72
11 mi·13 min·M 72
31
Turn left onto South Hubbard Lake Road
7.0 mi·26 min·South Hubbard Lake Road
32
Turn left onto West Mount Maria Road
0.6 mi·1 min·West Mount Maria Road
33
Turn right onto Hill Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Hill Street
34
Turn left onto John Street
281 ft·13 sec·John Street
35
Turn right onto Susan Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Susan Avenue
36
Arrive at destination
Susan Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 31 minute drive time and 221.1 mile distance, leaving Detroit in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. Since this is a single-day trip with no highway driving, you can be flexible with your timing. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel as you leave the Detroit area, as gas stations might become less frequent as you move north on the surface roads. The estimated fuel cost is around $35.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 110.5 miles from Detroit, MI, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 49 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.5 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hubbard Lake, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Detroit, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Detroit, MI
This is one driving day of about 221.1 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Detroit, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 79 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 60.9 — 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
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Monroe Street
Turn right onto Monroe Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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
5
60.9 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75: Saginaw
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.88 one way
$73.76 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$40.09
$80.17
premium
$5.26
$45.78
$91.56
diesel
$6.18
$53.79
$107.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.3
0
$23.22
$10.61
Efficient EV
55.3
0
$19.35
$8.84
EV Truck/SUV
88.4
1
$30.95
$14.15
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Detroit, MI
Morning
in Detroit on Tuesday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hubbard Lake, MI
Morning
in Hubbard Lake on Tuesday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
W 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
1 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
4h 31m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 221.1 miles with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire drive. The longest stretch without a significant turn or stop is not specified, but expect consistent surface road conditions. You'll likely notice more frequent intersections and traffic signals as you navigate through populated areas before heading into more rural cruising territory.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. You will hit about 18 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 Effort6/10
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 221.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.3 miles (Monroe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Chrysler Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
957 ft593 ft
Total Climb
676 ft
Total Descent
529 ft
Highest Point
957 ft
~31.6 mi in
Elevation Range
363 ft
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 Hubbard Lake, MI, road signs point toward M 61: Standish and Gladwin.
Detroit is a major metropolis in the US state of Michigan that has had a profound impact on the world. From the advent of the automotive assembly line to the Motown sound, modern techno and rock music, Detroit continues to shape both American and global culture. The city has seen many of its historic buildings renovated, and is bustling with new developments and attractions that complement its world-class museums and theatres. After a long economic slump and decrease in population, Detroit has developed a reputation for crime and urban decline, but revitalization means that it is an exciting destination filled with technological advance and historic charm.
Top landmarks
•Detroit Institute of Arts — art museum in Detroit, Michigan
•Michigan Central Station — historic former railroad station in Detroit, Michigan
•Fisher Building — skyscraper in Detroit, Michigan, United States, including the Fisher Theater
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 221.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Hubbard Lake, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cadillac Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Monroe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Chrysler Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Hubbard Lake, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
