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Trip from Springville, MI to Detroit, MI

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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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Springville, MI, MI

Springville, MI

Youngcucafilms

Downtown Detroit, MI, MI

Detroit, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 94 — 34.5 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Springville, MI and Detroit, MI.

1

Start on Springville Highway

1.9 mi · 4 min · Springville Highway
2

At end of road, turn right onto US 12

28 mi · 40 min · US 12
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
4

Merge onto US 23

0.9 mi · 57 sec · US 23
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 94

35 mi · 38 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 215A Toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
9

Merge onto M 10

2.4 mi · 3 min · John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Exit 1B Toward Larned Street, Downtown Use the slight left lane.
11

Continue on West Larned Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · West Larned Street
12

Turn left onto Woodward Avenue

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13

Turn right onto Cadillac Square

126 ft · 4 sec · Cadillac Square
14

Arrive at destination

Cadillac Square

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.8 miles from Springville, MI, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.5 miles.

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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Springville, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 34.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Saline, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Saline, MI

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Saline, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ypsilanti, MI

Meal break

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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

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.

6
1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 12

At end of road, turn right onto US 12

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
30.9 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
8
31.1 mi into trip | ~47m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports
6
66.1 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in

Take the exit toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 215A Toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
8
68.8 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 1B Toward Larned Street, Downtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.87 one way

$21.73 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Springville, MI

Late night in Springville on Tuesday

Local time

4:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Detroit, MI

Late night in Detroit on Tuesday

Local time

4:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

19 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 32m 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 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.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.5 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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.

Driving Effort 8/10

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.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

30.9 mi in | ~46m

Airports

31.1 mi in | ~47m

About the Cities

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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34.5 miles on I 94. 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 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.

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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