Origin
Detroit, MI
Late night in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Detroit, MI to Lapeer, 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 17m
Distance
57.9 mi
93 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Lapeer, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick getaway from Detroit to Lapeer, you can expect a straightforward 57.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to avoid the need for an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, the route is highly economical for a spontaneous trip within the Midwest. You will transition from the urban environment of Detroit into the more relaxed surroundings of Lapeer, making it an easy change of pace. Because the driving time is under an hour and a half, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your own preferences.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 30.3 mi | 33m |
| North Lapeer Road | 14.9 mi | 20m |
| South Lapeer Road | 9 mi | 14m |
| South Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Washington Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Monroe Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| I 75 BL | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Randolph Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 30.3 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Lapeer, 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
30 mi
·
33 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 81
Toward M 24: Lapeer
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 75 BL
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 75 BL
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward M 24 North: Lapeer
11
Turn straight onto M 24
9.0 mi
·
14 min
·
South Lapeer Road
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on M 24
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Washington Street
13
Continue on M 24
15 mi
·
20 min
·
North Lapeer Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on M 24
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
15
Turn left onto West Nepessing Street
40 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Nepessing Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Nepessing Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 31.2 — 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
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
7
31.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward M 24: Lapeer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 81
Toward M 24: Lapeer
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.05 one way
$18.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.94 | $19.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.14 | $22.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.78 | $25.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.11 | $3.71 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Lapeer, MI
Late night in Lapeer on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
17 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 17m 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 profile, transitioning from fast-paced freeway travel to more localized roads. You will spend roughly 53 percent of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 30.3 miles on the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. As you progress, the route shifts from the major freeway system onto North Lapeer Road and South Lapeer Road. Expect a functional mix of high-speed transit and standard surface road driving as you head north. The character of the road changes noticeably once you exit the freeway, requiring you to shift your focus from steady cruising to navigating the local thoroughfares that lead into Lapeer.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.3 mi on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort
6/10
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 57.9 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,082 ft
598 ft
Total Climb
563 ft
Total Descent
302 ft
Highest Point
1,082 ft
~45.5 mi in
Elevation Range
484 ft
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 Lapeer, MI, road signs point toward M 24: Lapeer and M 24 North: Lapeer.
M 24: Lapeer
31.2 mi in
|
~36m
M 24 North: Lapeer
31.6 mi in
|
~36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 57.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.3 miles on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. 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 Lapeer, 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 0.1 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 Lapeer, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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