Farmington Hills, MI to Kimball, MI is 66.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes via Ford Freeway and Walter P Reuther Freeway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's ideal for a single day trip, avoiding the need for overnight stays. You'll find this route efficient for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.2 miles from Farmington Hills, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ford Freeway
30.7 mi
32m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
11.5 mi
12m
West 10 Mile Road
6.7 mi
13m
Wadhams Road
6.4 mi
15m
John C Lodge Freeway
2.5 mi
2m
Edsel Ford Freeway
1.7 mi
1m
East Heights Drive
1.4 mi
2m
Dove Road
1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Ford Freeway
— 30.7 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington Hills, MI and Kimball, MI.
1
Start on Farmington Road
443 ft·17 sec·Farmington Road
2
Turn left onto West 11 Mile Road
1.0 mi·2 min·West 11 Mile Road
3
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
0.1 mi·12 sec·Orchard Lake Road
4
Continue on Orchard Lake Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Orchard Lake Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward I 696 East: DetroitUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 696
3.2 mi·4 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7
Merge onto M 10
2.5 mi·2 min·John C Lodge Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 15Toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen RoadUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto Northwestern Highway
0.2 mi·27 sec·Northwestern Highway
10
Turn left onto West 10 Mile Road
6.6 mi·13 min·West 10 Mile Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on South Chrysler Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·South Chrysler Drive
12
Turn left
297 ft·16 sec
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto North Chrysler Drive
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Chrysler Drive
14
Keep slight right at fork onto West 10 Mile Road
499 ft·10 sec·West 10 Mile Road
15
Continue on East Heights Drive
1.4 mi·2 min·East Heights Drive
16
Continue on Walter P Reuther Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·Walter P Reuther Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 696 East
18
Merge onto I 696
8.2 mi·8 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 94 East: Port HuronUse the slight left lane.
20
Merge onto I 94
1.7 mi·1 min·Edsel Ford Freeway
21
Continue on I 94
31 mi·32 min·Ford Freeway
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward Wadhams Road
23
Turn left onto Wadhams Road
6.4 mi·15 min·Wadhams Road
24
Turn left onto Dove Road
1.0 mi·3 min·Dove Road
25
Turn right onto Ditty Road
42 ft·1 sec·Ditty Road
26
Arrive at destination
Ditty Road
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 35 minutes, this route offers plenty of flexibility for departure time. You can easily make this a same-day trip, leaving in the morning and arriving well before dinner. Since there are no designated stops in the data, you can plan for quick breaks as needed, perhaps when you feel the longest stretch of 30.7 miles on the Ford Freeway is complete. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is around $10, so topping up before you leave Farmington Hills is a good idea to ensure a stress-free arrival in Kimball.
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 33.2 miles from Farmington Hills, MI, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.7 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 15 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.2 miles or 47m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kimball, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Farmington Hills, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Farmington Hills, MI
This is one driving day of about 66.4 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Farmington Hills, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ford Freeway for about 30.7 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 25.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 696 East: Detroit
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 696 East: Detroit
5
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in|I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway
Merge onto I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
8.1 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen Road
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 15
Toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen Road
6
15.3 mi into trip|~25m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
25.7 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 East: Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 94 East: Port Huron
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.38 one way
$20.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.40
$22.80
premium
$4.89
$12.78
$25.56
diesel
$5.61
$14.66
$29.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.9
0
$6.97
$3.19
Efficient EV
16.6
0
$5.81
$2.66
EV Truck/SUV
26.6
0
$9.30
$4.25
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Farmington Hills, MI
Morning
in Farmington Hills on Tuesday
Local time
6:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kimball, MI
Morning
in Kimball on Tuesday
Local time
6:51 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
15 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
1h 35m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with about 70% of the journey utilizing major freeways. You'll experience stretches on the Ford Freeway and Walter P Reuther Freeway, offering a consistent pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 30.7 miles on the Ford Freeway, allowing for a smooth, continuous drive. While primarily highway, expect some transitions as you approach your destination, shifting from faster freeway speeds to local roads.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.7 mi on Ford Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ford 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 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.4 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 66.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.7 miles on Ford Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Kimball, 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 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 Kimball, MI before heading back.
