Detroit, MI to Woodland, MI is 122 miles and takes about 2 hours 27 minutes via I 96, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within the Midwest, specifically traversing Michigan for its entirety. Expect a highway-focused experience for the bulk of your journey, making it a practical choice for a quick trip or an extension of another regional adventure. Given its relatively short duration and manageable fuel cost, it’s an easy same-day option.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61 miles from Detroit, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
56.8 mi
1h
East Mount Hope Highway
19 mi
25m
John C Lodge Freeway
17.8 mi
23m
Ransom E Olds Freeway
9.6 mi
10m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.2 mi
8m
West Saint Joseph Highway
3 mi
4m
East Barnum Road
2 mi
2m
Nixon Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 56.8 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Woodland, 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
18 mi·23 min·John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 18CToward I 696 West: LansingUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 696
8.2 mi·8 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 96
18 mi·19 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
39 mi·41 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 106BToward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
12
Merge onto I 496; US 127
2.8 mi·3 min·Ransom E Olds Freeway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 496
6.7 mi·7 min·Ransom E Olds Freeway
Toward I 496 West: Downtown Lansing
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 1BToward Creyts Road North
15
Turn right onto South Creyts Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·South Creyts Road
16
Turn left onto West Saint Joseph Highway
3.0 mi·4 min·West Saint Joseph Highway
17
Turn left onto Nixon Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Nixon Road
18
Turn right onto East Mount Hope Highway
19 mi·25 min·East Mount Hope Highway
19
Continue on East Barnum Road
2.0 mi·2 min·East Barnum Road
20
Turn right onto Velte Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Velte Road
21
Turn left onto M 43
0.5 mi·41 sec·East Carlton Center Road
22
Continue on M 43
0.5 mi·53 sec·East Broadway Street
23
Arrive at destination
M 43
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 2.5 hours and a fuel cost around $19, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart any time of day and still arrive with plenty of daylight to spare. Since it's a short drive, you might not need many stops, but be aware of the longest stretch of 56.8 miles on I 96; plan for a break before or after this segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition off the main interstate onto local roads where stations might be less frequent.
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 61 miles from Detroit, MI, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.8 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61 miles or 1h 11m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodland, 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 122 miles and 2h 27m.
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 I 96 for about 56.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83.9 — 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|Bates Street
Turn right onto Bates Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|Griswold Street
Turn left onto Griswold Street
Navigation decision point
7
18.5 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward I 696 West: Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 18C
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
6
45 mi into trip|~54m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
83.9 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.07 one way
$38.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.94
$41.88
premium
$4.89
$23.48
$46.96
diesel
$5.61
$26.94
$53.87
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: 42.7 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
36.6
0
$12.81
$5.86
Efficient EV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
EV Truck/SUV
48.8
0
$17.08
$7.81
Gas CO2
43 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 20, 2026
Origin
Detroit, MI
Morning
in Detroit on Tuesday
Local time
7:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Woodland, MI
Morning
in Woodland on Tuesday
Local time
7:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live 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.
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
3 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
2h 27m 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?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 76% of it utilizing major highways like I 96. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 56.8 miles on I 96. While the backbone is the interstate, you'll also navigate local roads such as East Mount Hope Highway and John C Lodge Freeway, which will offer a slight change of pace. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, moving steadily across the landscape with minimal detours.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.8 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and East Mount Hope Highway. 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 Bates Street.
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 18 significant decision points across 122 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 (Bates Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Griswold Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.5 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.
On the drive from Detroit, MI to Woodland, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Creyts Road North 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 122 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.8 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Woodland, 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. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Bates Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Griswold Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.5 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 Woodland, MI before heading back.
