Detroit, MI to Lake Fenton, MI is 64.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 16 minutes via Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, making it a straightforward drive between two points in the Midwest. Most of the route is on highways, so you'll cover ground efficiently. Given the short duration, it's an easy same-day excursion, perfect for a quick getaway or a visit to a friend.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
54.5 mi
59m
East Baldwin Road
5 mi
6m
Fenton Road
2.9 mi
5m
South Saginaw Road
0.9 mi
1m
Monroe Street
0.4 mi
1m
Randolph Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Cadillac Square
0.1 mi
<1m
Triple Oak Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 54.5 mi, about 59m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 33 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,143 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,357
Quietest
2 AM
~281 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Lake Fenton, 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
54 mi·59 min·Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Toward I 75 North: FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto South Saginaw Road
0.9 mi·1 min·South Saginaw Road
10
Turn left onto East Baldwin Road
5.0 mi·6 min·East Baldwin Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Fenton Road
2.9 mi·5 min·Fenton Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Triple Oak Drive
403 ft·17 sec·Triple Oak Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Triple Oak Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 32.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 61.6 — 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
6
61.6 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|Fenton Road
Turn left onto Fenton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.72 one way
$21.45 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$11.68
$23.36
premium
$5.18
$13.16
$26.32
diesel
$5.35
$13.59
$27.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.4
0
$6.77
$3.10
Efficient EV
16.1
0
$5.64
$2.58
EV Truck/SUV
25.8
0
$9.03
$4.13
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.
Forecast as of Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Detroit, MI
Evening
in Detroit on Wednesday
Local time
5:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
ENE 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:06AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 3:45AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Destination
Lake Fenton, MI
Evening
in Lake Fenton on Wednesday
Local time
5:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
NE 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:06AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 3:45AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
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
2 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 16m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 84% of the 64.5 miles on high-speed roads like the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. You'll experience a solid stretch of 54.5 miles on the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a fairly continuous highway experience for the majority of your drive, with exits and merges typical of freeway travel.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and East Baldwin Road. You will hit about 10 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 Effort5/10
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 64.5 miles you will encounter 10 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.
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 1h 16m. Total distance: 64.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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.
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 0.3 miles (Monroe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Chrysler Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lake Fenton, MI before heading back.
