Origin
Northville, MI
Late night in Northville on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northville, MI to Detroit, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
28.6 mi
46 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northville, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Northville to Detroit, you are looking at a manageable 29.6-mile trek that typically takes about 33 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $4, it is an incredibly cost-effective route for commuters or weekend visitors. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will find a familiar atmosphere throughout the journey. Because there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination without unnecessary delays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jeffries Freeway (Express) | 10.6 mi | 11m |
| I 96 | 9.2 mi | 9m |
| Sheldon Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| M 14 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Fisher Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Grand River Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Center Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Griswold Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jeffries Freeway (Express)
— 10.6 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northville, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on North Center Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Center Street
2
Enter roundabout onto Sheldon Road
113 ft
·
2 sec
·
Sheldon Road
3
Continue on Sheldon Road
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sheldon Road
4
Continue on North Sheldon Road
471 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Sheldon Road
5
Take the ramp
508 ft
·
12 sec
Toward M 14: Detroit, Ann Arbor
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward M 14 East: Detroit
7
Merge onto M 14
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
M 14
8
Continue on I 96
9.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Jeffries Freeway (Express)
Toward I 96 Express: Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 75 North, M 10: Flint, Downtown
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 75 North: Flint
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 75
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Fisher Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 50
Toward Grand River Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on Fisher Drive West
442 ft
·
16 sec
·
Fisher Drive West
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto M 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand River Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Griswold Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Griswold Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Michigan Avenue
341 ft
·
15 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
18
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
179 ft
·
6 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on Woodward Avenue
124 ft
·
8 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
20
Continue on Woodward Avenue
231 ft
·
14 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
21
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
22
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 28.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward M 14: Detroit, Ann Arbor
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward M 14: Detroit, Ann Arbor
7
15.4 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
26.3 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
27.5 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
28.5 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
Woodward Avenue
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.47 one way
$8.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.91 | $9.82 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.50 | $11.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.31 | $12.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.50 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Late night in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
3:36 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
2 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
38m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway travel. You will navigate primarily via Sheldon Road, North Sheldon Road, and M-14 throughout the journey. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on Sheldon Road, you should be prepared for a drive that keeps you engaged with frequent turns and local traffic patterns. This path prioritizes local connectivity over long, monotonous highway stretches, giving you a very different experience than a typical cross-country transit. Keep your hands on the wheel and stay alert, as the winding nature of these roads defines the character of this 33-minute trip.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.6 mi on Jeffries Freeway (Express).
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jeffries Freeway (Express) and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 28.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles (I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.3 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Northville, MI and Detroit, MI, road signs point toward M 14: Detroit, Ann Arbor, M 14 East: Detroit, M 10: Flint and Downtown.
M 14: Detroit
3.3 mi in
|
~6m
Ann Arbor
3.3 mi in
|
~6m
M 14 East: Detroit
3.4 mi in
|
~6m
M 10: Flint
26 mi in
|
~31m
Downtown
26 mi in
|
~31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 28.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.6 miles on Jeffries Freeway (Express). 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: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles (I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.3 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.
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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