Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
31.7 mi
51 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Royal Oak, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Green Oak, MI
klaas wauben
If you are looking for a quick transition from Royal Oak to Green Oak, this 31.7-mile journey is a straightforward commute that typically takes about 39 minutes. Because the trip is short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $5 on fuel, making this a highly budget-friendly transit across the Michigan Midwest. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, keeping travel time predictable and efficient. It is an ideal option for travelers who prefer a direct, no-fuss drive rather than a scenic excursion.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 16.1 mi | 17m |
| I 96 | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Silver Lake Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Kent Lake Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| West 10 Mile Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West 11 Mile Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Royal Oak, MI and Green Oak, MI.
Start on this road
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
Turn right onto South Main Street
Turn right onto West 10 Mile Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 696
Merge onto I 96
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Kent Lake Road
Turn right onto Silver Lake Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Kent Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward Kent Lake Road, South Lyon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$4.96 one way
$9.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.44 | $10.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.10 | $12.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Royal Oak on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Green Oak on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 83% of your travel occurs on high-speed roads. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Walter P Reuther Freeway and I-96, which facilitate a steady pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 16.1 miles on the Walter P Reuther Freeway, allowing for consistent driving before you eventually transition toward Silver Lake Road. The route maintains a functional, interstate-heavy personality throughout. You won't encounter technical mountain passes or winding backroads here; instead, you get a reliable, high-capacity road network designed for getting you to your destination quickly.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P Reuther Freeway and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 11 Mile Road.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 31.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 11 Mile Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 696 / Walter P Reuther Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
421 ft
Total Descent
159 ft
Highest Point
1,023 ft
~27.2 mi in
Elevation Range
389 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Royal Oak, MI to Green Oak, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Lyon along the way.
Lyon
Royal Oak is a suburb of Detroit in Oakland County, Michigan known for its trendy downtown shopping area and bars. 1 mile South of Royal Oak is Ferndale, a place very similar to Royal Oak, known for its large lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender population. North of Royal Oak is Birmingham, an opulent area known for its upscale boutiques.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 31.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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