This 566.7-mile journey from Laurium, Michigan, to Detroit, Michigan, will take approximately 10 hours and 55 minutes to complete. It's a long-distance drive that comfortably spans two days, especially considering the 3 planned stops. You'll be on the road for a significant portion of your time, with a fuel cost estimated at $86. The route primarily utilizes I-75, offering a direct path through the Midwest region. Given its length, attempting this drive in a single day is not recommended and would likely be exhausting.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
283.3 miles from Laurium, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
292.3 mi
5h 4m
Townsend Drive
84 mi
1h 47m
M-28
70.9 mi
1h 24m
US 2
65.1 mi
1h 15m
M 77
17.3 mi
20m
Palms Avenue
10.2 mi
14m
US-41
8.4 mi
11m
US-41/M-28
3.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 292.3 mi, about 5h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurium, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on M 26
85 ft·6 sec·3rd Street
2
Turn right onto M 26
0.3 mi·40 sec·Hecla Street
3
Turn sharp right onto Lake Linden Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·Lake Linden Avenue
4
Turn left onto Rockland Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·Rockland Street
5
Turn left onto US 41
1.3 mi·1 min·County Road
6
Continue on US 41
8.4 mi·11 min·US-41
7
Continue on US 41
0.4 mi·51 sec·North Lincoln Drive
8
Turn left onto Scott Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Scott Street
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 41
0.6 mi·1 min·Hancock Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 41
0.2 mi·26 sec·Front Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 41; M 26
0.3 mi·1 min·Houghton-Hancock Lift Bridge
12
Turn left onto US 41
276 ft·8 sec·US 41 South
Toward US 41 South: Marquette
13
Continue on US 41
0.6 mi·1 min·West Montezuma Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Merge onto US 41
0.4 mi·1 min·College Avenue
15
Continue on US 41
84 mi·1 hr 47 min·Townsend Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
92 ft·5 sec·US 41; M 28
17
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; M 28
18
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
94 ft·5 sec·Palms Avenue
19
Continue on US 41; M 28
10 mi·14 min·Palms Avenue
20
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
116 ft·6 sec·US-41/M-28
21
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.5 mi·45 sec·US-41/M-28
22
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
103 ft·6 sec·US-41/M-28
23
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.6 mi·2 min·US-41/M-28
24
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.0 mi·1 min·Marquette Bypass
25
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
109 ft·6 sec·Marquette Bypass
26
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.2 mi·14 sec·Marquette Bypass
27
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
107 ft·1 sec·Marquette Bypass
28
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.5 mi·52 sec·Marquette Bypass
29
Take the exit onto US 41; M 28
410 ft·10 sec·US 41; M 28
30
Merge onto US 41; M 28
2.6 mi·4 min·South Front Street
31
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.6 mi·2 min·US-41/M-28
32
Turn left onto M 28
36 mi·42 min·M-28
33
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi·4 min·West Munising Avenue
34
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi·22 sec·Cedar Street
35
Continue on M 28
35 mi·41 min·M-28
36
Turn sharp right onto M 77
17 mi·20 min·M 77
37
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
65 mi·1 hr 15 min·US 2
38
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
39
Merge onto I 75
94 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 75
40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
124 mi·2 hr 7 min·I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi·11 min·I 75; US 23
42
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375
0.7 mi·1 min·Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
44
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue EastUse the slight right lane.
45
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
133 ft·8 sec·Chrysler Drive
46
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
47
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
449 ft·19 sec·Woodward Avenue
48
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft·4 sec·Cadillac Square
49
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Trip Plan
For this 10-hour-plus drive, splitting it over two days is your best bet for a more relaxed experience. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight driving. With 3 planned stops, you can distribute them evenly across your journey, perhaps stopping for the night roughly halfway through. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 292.3 miles on I-75, as services can sometimes be spread out on interstate highways.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 283.3 miles from Laurium, MI, or about 5h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 292.3 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 125 miles or 2h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 283.3 miles or 5h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 283.3 miles or 5h 58m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Detroit, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laurium, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Laurium, MI
Aim for roughly 283 miles and 5.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Detroit, MI
Aim for roughly 283 miles and 5.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 125 miles from Laurium, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 292.3 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 565.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|Lake Linden Avenue
Turn sharp right onto Lake Linden Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
11.2 mi into trip|~18m in|US 41 / Hancock Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 41 / Hancock Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
366.9 mi into trip|~7h 24m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
6
502 mi into trip|~9h 43m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
565.1 mi into trip|~10h 51m in|I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$88.60 one way
$177.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg198 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$97.28
$194.55
premium
$4.89
$109.06
$218.11
diesel
$5.61
$125.12
$250.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$89
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$219–$329
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 198.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $60 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
170
2
$59.50
$27.20
Efficient EV
141.7
1
$49.59
$22.67
EV Truck/SUV
226.7
2
$79.34
$36.27
Gas CO2
198 kg
EV CO2
66 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Laurium, MI
Night
in Laurium on Saturday
Local time
9:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Detroit, MI
Night
in Detroit on Saturday
Local time
9:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Flat Rock, MI
187 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
14 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
10h 55m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Keweenaw National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The stories of people and copper in the Keweenaw Peninsula have been intertwined for more than 7,000 years. Indigenous peoples made copper into tools and trade items. Investors and immigrants arrived...
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coa...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
$25
near mile 175.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The majority of this route, 66% to be exact, is highway driving, mainly on I-75. Expect a consistent pace for much of the trip, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 292.3 miles on I-75. While the core of the drive is on major highways, you'll also navigate segments of Townsend Drive and M-28, which may offer a change of pace. This mix means you'll experience both efficient travel and potentially more local road conditions.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
49 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 292.3 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 10h 55m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Lake Linden Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 566.7 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 0.3 miles (Lake Linden Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 11.2 miles (US 41 / Hancock Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 366.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 292.3 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 283 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Lake Linden Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 11.2 miles (US 41 / Hancock Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 366.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Keweenaw National Historical Park and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.9 hours each way, a round trip means 21.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Detroit, MI before the return drive.
