Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Detroit, MI to Warren, MI

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

23m

Distance

17.1 mi

27 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 21m ★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Detroit, MI, MI

Detroit, MI

Wikimedia Commons

city in Macomb County, Michigan, United States

Warren, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This short 17.1-mile trip from Detroit to Warren, Michigan, is designed for a single day, taking about 23 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and Walter P. Reuther Freeway, with a portion on East 11 Mile Road. With an 87% highway share, this is a straightforward, efficient drive. The estimated fuel cost is around $3, making it an economical option for a quick journey within the Midwest. Given its brevity, no overnight stays are necessary, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway 10.3 mi 11m
Walter P Reuther Freeway 4.1 mi 4m
East 11 Mile Road 0.9 mi 1m
I-75 North to I-696 East 0.4 mi <1m
Monroe Street 0.4 mi 1m
Randolph Street 0.2 mi <1m
Cadillac Square 0.1 mi <1m
Chrysler Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Walter P. Chrysler Freeway — 10.3 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Warren, 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

10 mi · 11 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Flint Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 61 Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I-75 North to I-696 East

0.4 mi · 52 sec · I-75 North to I-696 East
Toward I 696 East: Port Huron Use the slight right lane.
10

Continue on I 696

4.1 mi · 4 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 23 Toward M 53: Van Dyke Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on East 11 Mile Road

0.2 mi · 30 sec · East 11 Mile Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13

Continue on East 11 Mile Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 11 Mile Road
14

Turn right

380 ft · 31 sec
15

Turn left

162 ft · 11 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 15.9 — 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
8
11.1 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 61 Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
7
11.3 mi into trip | ~15m in | I-75 North to I-696 East

Keep slight right at fork onto I-75 North to I-696 East toward I 696 East: Port Huron

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 696 East: Port Huron
7
15.9 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward M 53: Van Dyke Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 23 Toward M 53: Van Dyke Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.67 one way

$5.35 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $2.94 $5.87
premium $4.89 $3.29 $6.58
diesel $5.61 $3.78 $7.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.1 0 $1.80 $0.82
Efficient EV 4.3 0 $1.50 $0.68
EV Truck/SUV 6.8 0 $2.39 $1.09

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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 16, 2026

Origin

Detroit, MI

Morning in Detroit on Tuesday

Local time

6:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

WSW 12 mph 70% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:30PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 3:47PM EDT until April 18 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI

Destination

Warren, MI

Morning in Warren on Tuesday

Local time

6:56 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

7 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

23m 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?

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this route, with 87% of your journey on freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.3 miles on the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. This profile suggests a predominantly fast-paced experience, minimizing local traffic interruptions for most of the trip. While the main roads are freeways, the final segment on East 11 Mile Road might offer a slight shift in character as you approach your destination, transitioning from high-speed travel to a more local road feel.

87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.3 mi on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and Walter P Reuther Freeway. 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 12 decision points packed into just 17.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 23m.

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 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Warren, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Port Huron along the way.

Port Huron

11.1 mi in | ~14m

About the Cities

Starting in Detroit, MI

Full guide →

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.

Arriving in Warren, MI

Full guide →

Warren is the largest suburb in Metro Detroit.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 17.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 10.3 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 Warren, 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 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Warren, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Warren, MI

Macomb, MI 17 mi · 29m Clinton Township, MI 10.7 mi · 19m Sterling Heights, MI 7.8 mi · 16m

More from Detroit, MI

Ontonagon, MI 575.4 mi · 10h 55m Allouez, MI 569.6 mi · 11h Boston, MI 559.6 mi · 10h 46m Ford River, MI 441.1 mi · 8h 5m Greilickville, MI 258.2 mi · 4h 57m Benzonia, MI 251.6 mi · 4h 50m

More trips to Warren, MI

Flint, MI 62.3 mi
Escape planner: Detroit, MI Scenic drives in MI

Explore more options from Detroit, MI or browse trips ending in Warren, MI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.