Detroit to Laurium is 565.9 miles and takes about 10h 53m via I 75 and US 41, with a fuel budget near $88 and a need to split it over two days. This long-haul drive stays within Michigan, traveling from the Midwest's more populated areas to its northern reaches. Given the nearly 11-hour estimated drive time, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended. You'll want to prepare for a substantial amount of time on the road, making efficient planning essential.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
282.9 miles from Detroit, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
232.9 mi
4h
US 41
86.1 mi
1h 52m
M-28
70.9 mi
1h 23m
US-2 West
62.1 mi
1h 12m
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
60 mi
1h 5m
M 77
17.3 mi
20m
County Road 480
12.5 mi
18m
US-41
8.4 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 232.9 mi, about 4h
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 138 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,916 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,048
Quietest
2 AM
~169 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
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 Laurium, 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
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 75; US 23
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
118 mi·2 hr 1 min·I 75
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 344BToward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
12
Merge onto US 2; I 75 BL
0.7 mi·1 min·US-2 West
13
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi·3 min·US 2
14
Continue on US 2
61 mi·1 hr 11 min·US-2 West
15
Turn right onto M 77
17 mi·20 min·M 77
16
Turn sharp left onto M 28
35 mi·41 min·M-28
17
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi·28 sec·Cedar Street
18
Enter roundabout onto M 28
194 ft·11 sec·East Munising
19
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi·4 min·East Munising
20
Continue on M 28
36 mi·42 min·M-28
21
Continue on CR 551
1.8 mi·2 min·Cherry Creek Road
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto CR 480
13 mi·18 min·County Road 480
23
Continue on Rail Street
0.4 mi·36 sec·Rail Street
24
Turn right onto Division Street
503 ft·10 sec·Division Street
25
Turn right onto M 28 BUS
440 ft·12 sec·West Main Street
26
Turn left onto M 28 BUS
0.5 mi·52 sec·North Teal Lake Avenue
27
Turn left onto US 41; M 28
2.7 mi·4 min·US Highway 41
28
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
83 ft·4 sec·US 41; M 28
29
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; M 28
30
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
88 ft·5 sec·US 41; M 28
31
Continue on US 41; M 28
85 mi·1 hr 51 min·US 41; M 28
32
Turn left onto US 41
0.2 mi·34 sec·Front Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on US 41
510 ft·13 sec·Reservation Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
34
Turn left onto East White Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East White Street
35
At end of road, turn right onto US 41
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Lincoln Drive
36
Continue on US 41
8.4 mi·11 min·US-41
37
Continue on US 41
1.3 mi·2 min·County Road
38
Turn right onto Rockland Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·Rockland Street
39
Turn right onto Lake Linden Avenue
0.3 mi·36 sec·Lake Linden Avenue
40
Turn sharp left onto M 26
0.3 mi·41 sec·Hecla Street
41
Turn left onto M 26
85 ft·2 sec·3rd Street
42
Arrive at destination
M 26
Trip Plan
With a total drive time approaching 11 hours, breaking this trip into two days is the most sensible approach. Aim to leave Detroit early in the morning to cover a significant portion of I 75. Your recommended overnight stop would be roughly halfway, around the 5-6 hour mark. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially as you get further north where services might be less frequent than on the initial interstate portion. The three planned stops are well-distributed for breaks across the two days.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 282.9 miles from Detroit, MI, or about 4h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 232.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 124 miles or 2h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 282.9 miles or 4h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 282.9 miles or 4h 56m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurium, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Detroit, MI
Aim for roughly 283 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laurium, MI
Aim for roughly 283 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 124 miles from Detroit, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 232.9 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 28
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 565.6 — 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
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
293.8 mi into trip|~5h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 344B
Toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
6
565.6 mi into trip|~10h 53m in|M 26 / Hecla Street
Turn sharp left onto M 26 / Hecla Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$94.40 one way
$188.80 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg198 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$103.00
$206.00
premium
$5.25
$117.03
$234.07
diesel
$6.18
$137.67
$275.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$94
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$224–$334
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 198 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $59 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
169.8
2
$59.42
$27.16
Efficient EV
141.5
1
$49.52
$22.64
EV Truck/SUV
226.4
2
$79.23
$36.22
Gas CO2
198 kg
EV CO2
66 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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
Afternoon
in Detroit on Tuesday
Local time
3:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
SW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Laurium, MI
Afternoon
in Laurium on Tuesday
Local time
3:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 5 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
10h 53m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Keweenaw National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The stories of people and copper in the Keweenaw Peninsula have been intertwined for more than 7,000 years. Indigenous peoples made copper into tools and trade items. Investors and immigrants arrived...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 565.9
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coa...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
$25
near mile 390.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 80% of this drive on highways, covering 232.9 miles on I 75 as the longest continuous stretch. After this major highway segment, you'll transition to US 41 and M-28, which are more typical surface roads. Expect a change in driving pace and potentially more frequent local traffic as you move away from the interstate.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 232.9 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 41. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cadillac Square.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 565.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,563 ft598 ft
Total Climb
2,839 ft
Total Descent
2,206 ft
Highest Point
1,563 ft
~485 mi in
Elevation Range
965 ft
Notable High Points
1,563 ft at ~485 miles+934 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Detroit, MI to Laurium, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Escanaba along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 232.9 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 283 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 35 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 Laurium, 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 35 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 0.7 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 — Keweenaw National Historical Park and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.9 hours each way, a round trip means 21.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laurium, MI before the return drive.
