Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 7, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
49.6 mi
80 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Whitmore Lake, MI
Sean Ewing
The drive from Detroit, MI to Whitmore Lake, MI covers 49.6 miles and takes about 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on M 14, Jeffries Freeway (Express), US 23 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.5 miles on M 14. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| M 14 | 17.5 mi | 18m |
| Jeffries Freeway (Express) | 14.5 mi | 15m |
| US 23 | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| Jeffries Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 9 Mile Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Jefferson Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Congress Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Whitmore Lake, MI.
Start on Cadillac Square
Turn right onto Bates Street
Turn right onto East Congress Street
Turn left onto Griswold Street
Turn right onto M 10
Continue on M 10
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
Continue on M 14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto M 36
Turn right onto East Shore Drive
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.8 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 48.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 South: Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 96 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23 toward US 23 North: Brighton, Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward South Lyon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.69 one way
$15.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $8.43 | $16.86 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.62 | $19.25 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $10.93 | $21.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.21 | $2.38 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.34 | $1.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.94 | $3.17 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
8:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Evening in Whitmore Lake on Sunday
Local time
8:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
49.6 mi in 57m — 58% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: M 14.
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.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 49.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
415 ft
Total Descent
87 ft
Highest Point
955 ft
~39 mi in
Elevation Range
366 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Detroit, MI to Whitmore Lake, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Flint along the way.
Flint
“The D” · Founded 1701
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 49.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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