Origin
Springville, MI
Late night in Springville on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
69.5 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springville, MI
Youngcucafilms
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 69.5-mile drive from Springville to Detroit, Michigan, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 32 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With 94% of the journey on highways, you'll spend most of your time on I-94 and US 12 before merging onto the John C Lodge Freeway into the city. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $11, and with no recommended stops, you can push straight through. This highway-focused route is designed for efficient travel between two points in the Midwest, offering a practical way to get from your starting point to the bustling heart of Detroit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.8 miles from Springville, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 34.5 mi | 38m |
| US 12 | 27.9 mi | 40m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Springville Highway | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| US 23 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| West Larned Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodward Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cadillac Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Springville, MI and Detroit, MI.
Start on Springville Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 12
Take the exit
Merge onto US 23
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Merge onto M 10
Take the exit
Continue on West Larned Street
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
Arrive at destination
Given the short duration of just over 1.5 hours, this drive is best tackled in one go, offering flexibility for your departure time. You can easily leave Springville whenever it suits you best, whether it's early to beat potential traffic into Detroit or later in the day. With a fuel cost of around $11, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you approach Detroit, especially on the John C Lodge Freeway, as congestion can build during peak hours. The lack of recommended stops means you can be in control of your schedule and decide if and when you'd like to pull over.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 15 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.8 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Detroit, MI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Springville, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Springville, MI
This is one driving day of about 69.5 miles and 1h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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.
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 34.8 miles from Springville, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 68.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto US 12
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Larned Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$10.87 one way
$21.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.93 | $23.86 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.37 | $26.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.34 | $30.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.30 | $3.34 |
| Efficient EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.73 | $4.45 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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 Springville on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Detroit on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
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.
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
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.
Expect a highway-dominated experience for this trip, as 94% of the route utilizes major roadways like I-94 and US 12. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 34.5 miles on I-94, offering a consistent pace for a good portion of your drive. This profile suggests a relatively smooth and direct journey, with minimal time spent on slower, local roads. The transition onto the John C Lodge Freeway will likely signal your approach into the more urban environment of Detroit, marking a shift in the driving landscape.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near US 12.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.9 miles (US 12): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Springville, MI and Detroit, MI, road signs point toward Chicago and Airports.
Chicago
Airports
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 69.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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