Origin
Inkster, MI
Morning in Inkster on Tuesday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Inkster, MI to Detroit, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
20.9 mi
34 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Inkster, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Inkster to Detroit is a straightforward 20.9-mile transit that typically takes about 29 minutes. Because this is a short, highway-focused drive within the Midwest, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You can expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the journey, making it a very economical commute. Since the entire route is contained within Michigan, you won't need to worry about regional transitions or overnight planning. This is a practical, no-fuss connection between the two locations that gets you to your destination quickly and efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Industrial Expressway | 9.8 mi | 10m |
| Edsel Ford Freeway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Inkster Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Ecorse Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Larned Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodward Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cadillac Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Detroit Industrial Expressway
— 9.8 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Inkster, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Inkster Road
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Inkster Road
2
Turn left onto Ecorse Road
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Ecorse Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
4
Merge onto I 94
9.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 94
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 215A
Toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
7
Merge onto M 10
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 1B
Toward Larned Street, Downtown
Use the slight left lane.
9
Continue on West Larned Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Larned Street
10
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
12
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 20.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
17.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 215A
Toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
5
17.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway
Merge onto M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
20.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward Larned Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward Larned Street, Downtown
5
20.7 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
Woodward Avenue
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.27 one way
$6.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.59 | $7.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.02 | $8.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.61 | $9.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.19 | $1.00 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Detroit, MI
Morning in Detroit on Tuesday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
1 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
29m 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?
Expect a high-speed experience, as 79% of this trip takes place on major highways. You will navigate via Inkster Road before transitioning onto the Detroit Industrial Expressway and the Edsel Ford Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Detroit Industrial Expressway, covering 9.8 miles of the total distance. Because this is a highway-heavy route, the drive feels consistent and functional rather than scenic. You will spend the majority of your time maintaining highway speeds as you transition between the suburbs and the city.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.8 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 3.3 miles in near I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway.
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 8 decision points packed into just 20.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.9 miles (M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
631 ft
572 ft
Total Climb
76 ft
Total Descent
107 ft
Highest Point
631 ft
~4.5 mi in
Elevation Range
59 ft
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 Inkster, MI to Detroit, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 10 South: Downtown along the way.
M 10 South: Downtown
17.6 mi in
|
~23m
About the Cities
Starting in Inkster, MI
Full guide →Founded 1835
Southern Wayne County is a region in Wayne County in the state of Michigan.
Arriving 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.
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 29m. Total distance: 20.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.8 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 Detroit, 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 3.3 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.9 miles (M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Detroit, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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