This 147.8-mile journey from Ferndale, MI to Wyoming, MI will take approximately 2 hours and 48 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that's perfectly suited for a single day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. You can expect to spend around $22 on fuel for this route. The drive primarily utilizes I-96 and the Walter P Reuther Freeway, offering a consistent and efficient path through the Midwest. Given its manageable distance and duration, this trip is ideal for those looking for a convenient drive between two points within Michigan.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.9 miles from Ferndale, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
120.8 mi
2h 9m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
16.1 mi
17m
28th Street Southeast
8.6 mi
15m
Woodward Avenue
1 mi
1m
West 10 Mile Road
0.3 mi
<1m
South Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Vester Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West 9 Mile Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 120.8 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ferndale, MI and Wyoming, MI.
1
Start on West 9 Mile Road
506 ft·26 sec·West 9 Mile Road
2
Turn left onto Bermuda Street
340 ft·20 sec·Bermuda Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto Vester Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Vester Street
4
Turn right onto M 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Woodward Avenue
5
Keep slight right at fork onto Woodward Avenue
0.3 mi·25 sec·Woodward Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto West 10 Mile Road
0.3 mi·40 sec·West 10 Mile Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 696 West
9
Merge onto I 696
16 mi·17 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 96
18 mi·19 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
55 mi·58 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
48 mi·51 min·I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 43AToward M 11 West: 28th StreetUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto M 11
8.6 mi·15 min·28th Street Southeast
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto Burlingame Avenue Southwest
56 ft·1 sec·Burlingame Avenue Southwest
16
Arrive at destination
Burlingame Avenue Southwest
Trip Plan
With a duration under three hours, this route offers flexibility, so you can leave whenever suits you best. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, especially since the longest stretch on I-96 is over 120 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $22, and gas stations will be readily available along the interstate. Departing outside of peak rush hour in the Detroit area will help ensure the smoothest start to your 147.8-mile journey.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.9 miles from Ferndale, MI, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.8 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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.9 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wyoming, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ferndale, 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 Ferndale, MI
This is one driving day of about 147.8 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Ferndale, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 120.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 138.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Bermuda Street
Turn left onto Bermuda Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in|Woodward Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto Woodward Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|West 10 Mile Road
Turn left onto West 10 Mile Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
36 mi into trip|~41m 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.
7
138.8 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward M 11 West: 28th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43A
Toward M 11 West: 28th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.11 one way
$46.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.37
$50.74
premium
$4.89
$28.44
$56.89
diesel
$5.61
$32.63
$65.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.3
0
$15.52
$7.09
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.93
$5.91
EV Truck/SUV
59.1
0
$20.69
$9.46
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
Ferndale, MI
Late night
in Ferndale on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wyoming, MI
Late night
in Wyoming on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
21 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 48m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 93% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I-96, including one uninterrupted stretch of 120.8 miles. This means the majority of your travel will be at highway speeds, making for a quick and direct transit. The route is characterized by its focus on efficient travel rather than scenic detours, so prepare for a steady pace as you cover the distance.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.8 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Walter P Reuther 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 Bermuda 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 14 significant decision points across 147.8 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 (Bermuda Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (Woodward Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (West 10 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 147.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 120.8 miles on I 96. 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 Wyoming, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Bermuda Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (Woodward Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (West 10 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wyoming, MI before heading back.
