Origin
South Monroe, MI
Morning in South Monroe on Sunday
Local time
6:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Monroe, MI to Farmington Hills, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
49.8 mi
80 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Monroe, MI
fish socks
Farmington Hills, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from South Monroe to Farmington Hills is a straightforward 49.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. Since this is a relatively short trip within the Midwest, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via South Dixie Highway, South Monroe Street, and North Telegraph Road to reach your destination. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, the trip is highly economical for most vehicles. Whether you are heading north for business or a visit, the lack of mandatory stops allows you to complete the transit in one efficient push.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 275 | 32.9 mi | 35m |
| South Monroe Street | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| North Telegraph Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| West 11 Mile Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Dixie Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Orchard Lake Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Farmington Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 275
— 32.9 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Monroe, MI and Farmington Hills, MI.
1
Start on this road
266 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto M 125
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dixie Highway
4
Continue on M 125
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
South Monroe Street
5
Turn straight onto US 24
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
North Telegraph Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 275 North: Flint
7
Merge onto I 275
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 165
Toward I 696, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 696: Port Huron
10
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 696: Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 696
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 5
Toward Farmington Hills
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Orchard Lake Road
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West 11 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Farmington Road
443 ft
·
9 sec
·
Farmington Road
16
Arrive at destination
Farmington Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.9 miles from South Monroe, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 42.8 and 48.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
42.8 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward I 696, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165
Toward I 696, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron
7
43.5 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 696: Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 696: Port Huron
7
47.6 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Farmington Hills
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward Farmington Hills
6
48 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
Orchard Lake Road
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
48.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
West 11 Mile Road
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.79 one way
$15.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.55 | $17.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.58 | $19.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.00 | $21.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.23 | $2.39 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.36 | $1.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.97 | $3.19 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Farmington Hills, MI
Morning in Farmington Hills on Sunday
Local time
6:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
16 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
1h 3m 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 share. You will spend your time navigating local surface streets, which means your pace will be dictated by traffic signals and turning maneuvers rather than open highway cruising. Because the route relies on South Monroe Street and North Telegraph Road, the character of the drive remains consistent throughout the 49.8-mile span. There is no single long, uninterrupted stretch, so stay alert for frequent transitions between different local roads. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that requires steady focus on navigation through the Michigan landscape.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.9 mi on I 275.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 275 and South Monroe Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 42.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 South Monroe, MI and Farmington Hills, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East and M 5 North: Port Huron.
M 5 East
42.8 mi in
|
~51m
M 5 North: Port Huron
42.8 mi in
|
~51m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 49.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m 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 32.9 miles on I 275. 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 Farmington Hills, 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 42.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Farmington Hills, 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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Return Trip
Farmington Hills, MI to South Monroe, MIPlan the drive back the other way.
49.9 mi
1h 2m
Continue From Farmington Hills, MI
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