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Trip from Detroit, MI to Ypsilanti, MI

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

Drive Time

43m

Distance

35.7 mi

57 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 40m ★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Detroit, MI, MI

Detroit, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Ypsilanti, MI, MI

Ypsilanti, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

Detroit to Ypsilanti is 35.7 miles and takes about 43m via Detroit Industrial Expressway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Michigan. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on well-trafficked highways, making it an easy addition to a larger trip or a quick hop for a specific destination. You'll find this route is all about efficiency, getting you from point A to B with minimal fuss. Consider this a functional connector rather than a destination in itself.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Detroit Industrial Expressway 26.5 mi 28m
Edsel Ford Freeway 4.5 mi 6m
John C Lodge Freeway 2.5 mi 3m
South Huron Street 0.7 mi 1m
West Jefferson Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
East Congress Street 0.1 mi <1m
Griswold Street 0.1 mi <1m
West Michigan Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Detroit Industrial Expressway — 26.5 mi, about 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

2.5 mi · 3 min · John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 4B Toward I 94 West: Chicago Use the slight left lane.
8

Merge onto I 94

4.5 mi · 6 min · Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 94

19 mi · 20 min · Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94

7.9 mi · 8 min · Detroit Industrial Expressway
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 50 sec
Exit 183 Toward US 12 Business: Huron Street, Downtown, Ypsilanti Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn right onto US 12 BUS

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Huron Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Turn right onto US 12 BUS; M 17

193 ft · 32 sec · West Michigan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Continue on US 12 BUS; M 17

162 ft · 4 sec · West Michigan Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

US 12 BUS; M 17

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 35.6 — 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

7
3.2 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the exit toward I 94 West: Chicago

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 4B Toward I 94 West: Chicago
8
34.5 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward US 12 Business: Huron Street, Downtown, Ypsilanti

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 183 Toward US 12 Business: Huron Street, Downtown,...
6
34.9 mi into trip | ~41m in | US 12 BUS / South Huron Street

Turn right onto US 12 BUS / South Huron Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
35.6 mi into trip | ~43m in | US 12 BUS; M 17 / West Michigan Avenue

Turn right onto US 12 BUS; M 17 / West Michigan Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.58 one way

$11.16 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $6.13 $12.26
premium $4.89 $6.87 $13.74
diesel $5.61 $7.88 $15.76

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 $3.75 $1.71
Efficient EV 8.9 0 $3.12 $1.43
EV Truck/SUV 14.3 0 $5.00 $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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Detroit, MI

Late night in Detroit on Tuesday

Local time

4:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 9 to 14 mph 70% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 1:58AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 12:31AM EDT until April 18 at 6:30AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI

Destination

Ypsilanti, MI

Late night in Ypsilanti on Tuesday

Local time

4:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°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

43m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 94% of the journey utilizing major freeways. You'll spend most of your 43 minutes on routes like the Detroit Industrial Expressway and Edsel Ford Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 26.5 miles on the Detroit Industrial Expressway, offering a consistent, high-speed experience. Expect a straightforward, utilitarian drive with minimal scenic detours, designed for swift transit through the urban and suburban landscape of southeast Michigan.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.5 mi on Detroit Industrial Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Detroit Industrial Expressway and Edsel Ford Freeway. 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 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 11 decision points packed into just 35.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Bates Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Ypsilanti, MI

Full guide →

Ypsilanti (ĭp′·sĭ·lăn′·tē, often mispronounced yĭp′·sĭ·lăn′·tē) commonly shortened to Ypsi (ĭp′·sĭ), is a city in Michigan, six miles (10 km) east of Ann Arbor. "Ypsilanti" commonly refers to either or both of the City of Ypsilanti and the Charter Township of Ypsilanti, which lies mostly south of the city, with small portions to both the east and west of the city, and may also include neighboring parts of other townships. The geographic grid center of Ypsilanti is the intersection of the Huron River and Michigan Avenue, the latter of which connects downtown Detroit, Michigan with Chicago, Illinois, and through Ypsilanti is partially concurrent with US-12BR and M-17. It was established as a trading post in 1809 by Gabriel Godfroy, a French-Canadian fur trader from Montreal.

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 43m. Total distance: 35.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 26.5 miles on Detroit Industrial Expressway. 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 Ypsilanti, 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 0.1 miles (Bates Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 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 Ypsilanti, 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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