Jackson to Detroit is 77.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via I 94, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive connects two points within Michigan, making it a convenient option for those traveling between the Midwest regions. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of your journey. With a duration under two hours and minimal stops recommended, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion. Consider this route if you need a quick and efficient way to get from Jackson to Detroit without much fuss.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
28.7 mi
30m
M 14
22.2 mi
23m
Jeffries Freeway (Express)
10.6 mi
11m
I 96
9.2 mi
9m
East Michigan Avenue
2.3 mi
3m
US 127
0.9 mi
<1m
Fisher Freeway
0.8 mi
1m
Grand River Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 28.7 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on this road
75 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East Washington Avenue
272 ft·8 sec·East Washington Avenue
3
Turn left onto BUS US 127; M 50
0.2 mi·22 sec·South Cooper Street
4
Turn right onto I 94 BL
2.3 mi·3 min·East Michigan Avenue
5
Continue on I 94 BL
375 ft·13 sec·Ann Arbor Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
7
Merge onto US 127
0.9 mi·54 sec·US 127
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
9
Merge onto I 94
29 mi·30 min·I 94
10
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14
4.7 mi·5 min·M 14
Exit 171Toward M 14: Plymouth
11
Keep right at fork onto M 14
2.4 mi·2 min·M 14
Toward M 14 East, US 23 South: Plymouth
12
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14
15 mi·16 min·M 14
Exit 42Toward M 14 East: Plymouth, LivoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 96
9.2 mi·9 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
11 mi·11 min·Jeffries Freeway (Express)
Toward I 96 Express: DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 75 North, M 10: Flint, Downtown
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 75 North: FlintUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 75
0.8 mi·1 min·Fisher Freeway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 50Toward Grand River AvenueUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on Fisher Drive West
442 ft·16 sec·Fisher Drive West
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto M 5
0.5 mi·1 min·Grand River Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Griswold Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·Griswold Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto Michigan Avenue
341 ft·15 sec·Michigan Avenue
23
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
179 ft·6 sec·Woodward Avenue
Use the right lane.
24
Continue on Woodward Avenue
124 ft·8 sec·Woodward Avenue
25
Continue on Woodward Avenue
231 ft·14 sec·Woodward Avenue
26
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft·4 sec·Cadillac Square
27
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 38.6 miles from Jackson, 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 39.8 and 77.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
39.8 mi into trip|~45m in|M 14
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14 toward M 14 East: Plymouth, Livonia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 42
Toward M 14 East: Plymouth, Livonia
7
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express) toward I 96 Express: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 96 Express: Downtown
7
75 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 North: Flint
7
76.2 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward Grand River Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50
Toward Grand River Avenue
7
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|Woodward Avenue
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.08 one way
$24.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.27
$26.54
premium
$4.89
$14.88
$29.75
diesel
$5.61
$17.07
$34.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.2
0
$8.12
$3.71
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
EV Truck/SUV
30.9
0
$10.82
$4.95
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Jackson, MI
Late night
in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Rain Showers Likely
WSW 14 mph74% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 10:50AM EDT until April 19 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 18 at 10:42AM EDT until April 19 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Destination
Detroit, MI
Late night
in Detroit on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 29m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 65% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 94 and M 14, including the Jeffries Freeway (Express). You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 28.7 miles on I 94, offering a consistent pace. The character of the road remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over scenic detours. Be prepared for a steady, highway-driven experience for most of the 77.3 miles.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and M 14. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.8 miles in near M 14.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 39.8 miles (M 14): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.1 miles (I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jackson, MI and Detroit, MI, road signs point toward M 14: Plymouth, M 14 East, M 14 East: Plymouth and Livonia.
Jackson is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County in the south-central part of the state of Michigan, halfway between Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor, forty minutes south of Lansing and about an hour west of Detroit. Its population is 31,347 (2021) and combined with the county has a metro population of 160,050. Its tall buildings show a Jackson more populated than today, for the population had been declining since 1950 or so, but efforts have begun to flatten the curve and make the city diversified and vibrant.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 77.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.7 miles on I 94. 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 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 39.8 miles (M 14): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.1 miles (I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
