Origin
Southgate, MI
Afternoon in Southgate on Tuesday
Local time
12:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southgate, MI to Detroit, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
13.2 mi
21 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southgate, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 13.2-mile trip from Southgate to Detroit, Michigan, is designed for a single day, taking about 20 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on major roadways like the Fisher Freeway, Dix Highway, and Grand River Avenue, with about 75% of the drive on highways. Given its short distance and low estimated fuel cost of $2, this route is ideal for a spontaneous outing or a simple transfer. No overnight stays are recommended, and with zero planned stops, you can easily fit this into any schedule. It's a straightforward drive within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Michigan without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fisher Freeway | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| Dix Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Grand River Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Dix-Toledo Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Griswold Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodward Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Fisher Drive West | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Fisher Freeway
— 9.9 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southgate, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Dix-Toledo Highway
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Dix-Toledo Highway
2
Continue on Dix Highway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dix Highway
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 75 North: Detroit
4
Merge onto I 75
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Fisher Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Fisher Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 50
Toward Grand River Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on Fisher Drive West
442 ft
·
16 sec
·
Fisher Drive West
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto M 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand River Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Griswold Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Griswold Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Michigan Avenue
341 ft
·
15 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
11
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
179 ft
·
6 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on Woodward Avenue
124 ft
·
8 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
13
Continue on Woodward Avenue
231 ft
·
14 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
14
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
15
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 13.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 75 / Fisher Freeway
Merge onto I 75 / Fisher Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
8.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 75 / Fisher Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Fisher Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
12.1 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
5
12.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
M 5 / Grand River Avenue
Turn right onto M 5 / Grand River Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
13.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Woodward Avenue
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.06 one way
$4.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.27 | $4.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.54 | $5.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.91 | $5.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4 | 0 | $1.39 | $0.63 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.84 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Afternoon in Detroit on Tuesday
Local time
12:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Rain Showers Likely
SW 18 mph
60% chance
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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
20m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 13.2-mile journey, with 75% of the drive taking place on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.9 miles on the Fisher Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While Dix Highway and Grand River Avenue will bring you into more urban settings, the overall character leans towards efficient travel rather than leisurely cruising. This route is about getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss, emphasizing steady progress on well-traveled roads.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.9 mi on Fisher Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Fisher Freeway and Dix Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near I 75 / Fisher Freeway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 13.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 20m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
598 ft
569 ft
Total Climb
38 ft
Total Descent
30 ft
Highest Point
598 ft
~13.2 mi in
Elevation Range
29 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Southgate, MI
Full guide →Southern Wayne County is a region in Wayne County in the state of Michigan.
Arriving in Detroit, MI
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 20m. Total distance: 13.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.9 miles on Fisher Freeway. 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 2.2 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Detroit, MI
More trips to Detroit, MI
Explore more options from Southgate, MI or browse trips ending in Detroit, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.