This 120.5-mile trip from Detroit, MI to Union City, MI is a manageable one-day drive, taking approximately 2 hours and 26 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on M 60, I 94, and M 14, with about 45% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest excursion is around $19. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stay. The mixed terrain of this route offers a pleasant experience for a day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.3 miles from Detroit, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
M 60
40 mi
55m
I 94
34.5 mi
36m
M 14
22.8 mi
24m
Jeffries Freeway (Express)
14.5 mi
15m
Jeffries Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
John C Lodge Freeway
0.8 mi
1m
North Broadway Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Jefferson Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
M 60
— 40 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Union City, MI.
1
Start on Cadillac Square
313 ft·14 sec·Cadillac Square
2
Turn right onto Bates Street
247 ft·7 sec·Bates Street
3
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.1 mi·38 sec·East Congress Street
4
Turn left onto Griswold Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Griswold Street
5
Turn right onto M 10
0.3 mi·31 sec·West Jefferson Avenue
6
Continue on M 10
0.8 mi·1 min·John C Lodge Freeway
7
Take the exit
318 ft·7 sec
Exit 2AToward I 75: Toledo, FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 75 South: ToledoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·43 sec
Toward I 96 West: LansingUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 96
4.8 mi·5 min·Jeffries Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
14 mi·15 min·Jeffries Freeway (Express)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on M 14
17 mi·18 min·M 14
13
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14
5.4 mi·5 min·M 14
Exit 45Toward M 14: Ann ArborUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 94
34 mi·36 min·I 94
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
15
Take the exit onto M 60
40 mi·55 min·M 60
Toward M 60, I 94 Business: Spring Arbor, Jackson
16
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Broadway Street
17
Turn right onto Ellen Street
314 ft·13 sec·Ellen Street
18
Arrive at destination
Ellen Street
Trip Plan
Given this drive is just over 2 hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to avoid the worst of any Detroit traffic and still arrive with ample daylight. With no specific stops recommended, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps utilizing rest areas along I 94. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 40-mile stretch on M 60, as services can be more spread out on state routes than interstates. The relatively short duration means you can easily make this a spontaneous trip.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.3 miles from Detroit, MI, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, 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 120.5 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Detroit, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on M 60 for about 40 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 39.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 75: Toledo, Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 75: Toledo, Flint
7
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 South: Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South: Toledo
7
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 96 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
6
8 mi into trip|~11m in|I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
39.9 mi into trip|~46m in|M 14
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14 toward M 14: Ann Arbor
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45
Toward M 14: Ann Arbor
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.84 one way
$37.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.68
$41.37
premium
$4.89
$23.19
$46.38
diesel
$5.61
$26.60
$53.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.2
0
$12.65
$5.78
Efficient EV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
EV Truck/SUV
48.2
0
$16.87
$7.71
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Detroit, MI
Morning
in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Union City, MI
Morning
in Union City on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Dexter, MI
60 mi in
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
19 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
2h 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, blending highway speeds with more local road conditions. With 45% of the drive on highways, you'll experience some quicker travel segments. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is about 40 miles on M 60, offering a good period of consistent driving. This route provides a varied driving experience, moving from interstate cruising to navigating state routes as you progress towards Union City.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40 mi on M 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 120.5 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Detroit, MI and Union City, MI, road signs point toward M 14: Ann Arbor, M 60 and Jackson.
M 14: Ann Arbor
39.9 mi in|~46m|via M 14
M 60
79.8 mi in|~1h 28m|via M 60
Jackson
79.8 mi in|~1h 28m|via M 60
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 120.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40 miles on M 60. 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 Union City, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Union City, MI before heading back.
