Origin
Farmington Hills, MI
Morning in Farmington Hills on Sunday
Local time
6:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Farmington Hills, MI to South Monroe, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
49.9 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Farmington Hills, MI
Wikimedia Commons
South Monroe, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
Traveling from Farmington Hills to South Monroe covers a compact 49.9-mile distance within the Michigan Midwest. You can expect the journey to take roughly 1 hour and 2 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, this drive is highly economical for those looking to reach their destination without significant expense. Since the route is entirely contained within the state of Michigan, you will remain in the familiar Midwest region throughout the entire duration. It is an ideal option if you need to travel between these two points efficiently and without the logistical planning required for longer excursions.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway | 33.3 mi | 35m |
| North Monroe Street | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| North Telegraph Road | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 2.7 mi | 2m |
| West 12 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Farmington Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Dixie Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Orchard Lake Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
— 33.3 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington Hills, MI and South Monroe, MI.
1
Start on Farmington Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Farmington Road
2
Turn right onto West 12 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 12 Mile Road
3
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
256 ft
·
4 sec
·
Orchard Lake Road
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
5
Merge onto I 696
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 1
Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
9
Merge onto I 275; I 96
33 mi
·
35 min
·
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2
Toward US 24: Telegraph Road
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto US 24
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Telegraph Road
12
Continue on M 125
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
North Monroe Street
13
Continue on M 125
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dixie Highway
14
Turn right
201 ft
·
8 sec
15
Turn straight
456 ft
·
23 sec
16
Turn left
266 ft
·
11 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.9 miles from Farmington Hills, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 40 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
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 1
Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
6
5.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
6
6.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
5
6.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 275; I 96 / Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 275; I 96 / Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
40 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward US 24: Telegraph Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward US 24: Telegraph Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.80 one way
$15.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.57 | $17.13 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.60 | $19.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.02 | $22.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.24 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $6.99 | $3.19 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
South Monroe, MI
Morning in South Monroe on Sunday
Local time
6:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
16 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
1h 2m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will navigate a series of local roads, including West 12 Mile Road and Orchard Lake Road, before utilizing I-696 West to bridge the gap. Because the highway share is 0%, your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating through local infrastructure rather than maintaining steady speeds on open freeways. Expect a more active driving experience where frequent adjustments are necessary. The route maintains a consistent pace despite the lack of long, uninterrupted stretches, requiring your full attention on the road ahead.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.3 mi on Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 Farmington Hills, MI to South Monroe, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Toledo along the way.
Toledo
6.4 mi in
|
~10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 49.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.3 miles on Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway. 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 South Monroe, 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 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Monroe, 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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