Origin
Detroit, MI
Late night in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Detroit, MI to Macomb, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
35.6 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a quick trip from Detroit to Macomb? This 35.6-mile drive should take about 48 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion. You'll primarily be on the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and M 53, with a portion of Metropolitan Parkway. With a budget of around $6 for fuel, this is a very economical option. The drive is a mixed bag, mostly highway driving with some local road sections, and it's straightforward enough that you won't need to break it up. Both Detroit and Macomb are situated in the Midwest region of Michigan, so you'll remain within familiar territory throughout this short journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| M 53 | 5 mi | 5m |
| Metropolitan Parkway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| 23 Mile Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Van Dyke Avenue | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| East Big Beaver Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Garfield Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Monroe Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 16.4 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Macomb, 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
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 67
Toward Rochester Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Rochester Road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Rochester Road
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto East Big Beaver Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Big Beaver Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on Metropolitan Parkway
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Metropolitan Parkway
12
Continue on Metropolitan Parkway
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Metropolitan Parkway
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto M 53
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Van Dyke Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto M 53
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
M 53
Toward M 53 North: Imlay City
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 20A
Toward 23 Mile Road East
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto 23 Mile Road
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
23 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Garfield Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Garfield Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Enter roundabout
181 ft
·
4 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.8 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 30.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
17.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward Rochester Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 67
Toward Rochester Road
6
17.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Rochester Road
Turn right onto Rochester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
30.4 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward 23 Mile Road East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20A
Toward 23 Mile Road East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.57 one way
$11.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.11 | $12.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.85 | $13.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.86 | $15.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.11 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Macomb, MI
Late night in Macomb on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 14 mph
25% chance
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
31 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
48m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with about 55% of it being on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced freeway driving, particularly on the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, which accounts for the longest continuous stretch at 16.4 miles. As you transition to M 53 and Metropolitan Parkway, the character shifts slightly, incorporating more local road elements. Expect a blend of efficient travel on main arteries and more typical suburban road conditions as you approach your destination.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.4 mi on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Chrysler Drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 35.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Macomb, MI, road signs point toward M 53 North: Imlay City and 23 Mile Road East.
M 53 North: Imlay City
25.4 mi in
|
~34m
|
via M 53
23 Mile Road East
30.4 mi in
|
~40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 35.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.4 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 Macomb, 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 0.7 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; at 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Macomb, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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