Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Trowbridge Park, MI to Detroit, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 26m
Distance
457.7 mi
737 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 19m
★
6 AM
8h 27m
8 AM
8h 42m
10 AM
8h 32m
12 PM
8h 31m
3 PM
8h 33m
5 PM
8h 41m
8 PM
8h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trowbridge Park, MI
Petr Ganaj
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Trowbridge Park to Detroit is 457.7 miles and takes about 8h 26m via I-75, M-28, and US-2, with a fuel budget near $70 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a route with a significant amount of highway driving. With a recommended two days for the drive, you'll have ample time to break up the 457.7 miles. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive across the state.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
228.8 miles from Trowbridge Park, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 292.3 mi | 5h 4m |
| M-28 | 70.9 mi | 1h 24m |
| US 2 | 65.1 mi | 1h 15m |
| M 77 | 17.3 mi | 20m |
| US-41/M-28 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| South Front Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| West Munising Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Marquette Bypass | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 292.3 mi, about 5h 4m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 69 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,618 veh/hr typical · worst 3,640
Quietest
2 AM
~161 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Trowbridge Park, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on 498
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Ontario Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto 498
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Werner Street
3
Turn left onto Erickson Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Erickson Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 41; M 28
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US-41/M-28
5
Take the exit
135 ft
·
8 sec
6
Turn left onto US 41; M 28
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US-41/M-28
7
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Marquette Bypass
8
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
109 ft
·
6 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
9
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
10
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
107 ft
·
1 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
11
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
12
Take the exit onto US 41; M 28
410 ft
·
10 sec
·
US 41; M 28
13
Merge onto US 41; M 28
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Front Street
14
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US-41/M-28
15
Turn left onto M 28
36 mi
·
42 min
·
M-28
16
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
West Munising Avenue
17
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Cedar Street
18
Continue on M 28
35 mi
·
41 min
·
M-28
19
Turn sharp right onto M 77
17 mi
·
20 min
·
M 77
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
65 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
US 2
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
22
Merge onto I 75
94 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
I 75
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
124 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 75; US 23
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
133 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chrysler Drive
29
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
30
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
449 ft
·
19 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
31
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
32
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour driving time, it’s best to split this trip over two days to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight. With two planned stops, you can break up the drive into manageable segments. The longest stretch without a stop is 292.3 miles on I-75, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, especially before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 79% highway portion, as services might be spaced further apart on certain stretches.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 228.8 miles from Trowbridge Park, MI, or about 4h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 292.3 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 101 miles or 2h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 228.8 miles or 4h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 228.8 miles or 4h 26m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 19m
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 Trowbridge Park, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Trowbridge Park, MI
Aim for roughly 229 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Detroit, MI
Aim for roughly 229 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 101 miles from Trowbridge Park, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 292.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
229 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Gaylord, MIOvernight Options
Night 1
229 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Gaylord, MI after about 229 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 101 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 228.8 miles from Trowbridge Park, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 292.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 229 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Davisburg Rest Area 908
0 mi from route
Clarkston Rest Area 904
0 mi from route
Naubinway Rest Area
0 mi from route
Alger Rest Area 625
0 mi from route
Marquette Welcome Center
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Seney Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Dodge Road Rest Area 631
0.1 mi from route
Clio Rest Area 612
0.1 mi from route
Linwood Rest Area 626
0.1 mi from route
Gaylord Rest Area 405
0.1 mi from route
Hebron Rest Area 408
0.1 mi from route
Mackinaw City Welcome Center 409
0.1 mi from route
Topinabee Rest Area 407
0.1 mi from route
Vanderbilt Rest Area 406
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Hartwick Pines Rest Area 404
0.1 mi from route
Nine Mile Hill Rest Area 434
0.1 mi from route
Saint Ignace Welcome Center
0.1 mi from route
Seney Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Bay City Rest Area 605
0.2 mi from route
M-81 Express Stop
0.2 mi from route
West Branch Rest Area 433
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Grayling Rest Area 403
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Saint Ignace Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 257.9 and 457 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
257.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 56m in
|
I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
6
393 mi into trip
|
~7h 14m in
|
I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
456 mi into trip
|
~8h 23m in
|
I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
456.8 mi into trip
|
~8h 24m in
Take the exit toward Jefferson Avenue East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
6
457 mi into trip
|
~8h 24m in
|
East Congress Street
Turn right onto East Congress Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.59 one way
$135.18 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
160 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $74.62 | $149.24 |
| premium | $4.72 | $84.98 | $169.96 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $86.42 | $172.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$198–$308
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 160.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 137.3 | 1 | $48.06 | $21.97 |
| Efficient EV | 114.4 | 1 | $40.05 | $18.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 183.1 | 2 | $64.08 | $29.29 |
Gas CO2
160 kg
EV CO2
54 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Trowbridge Park, MI
Late night in Trowbridge Park on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Smoke
S 0 to 5 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Detroit, MI
Late night in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Smoke
E 2 to 7 mph
0% chance
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8 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
8h 26m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coa...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$25
near mile 63.1
Park Closure: Munising Falls Trail Closed Until Further Notice
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on highways, with 79% of the total distance covered on them. You'll encounter a long stretch of 292.3 miles on I-75, which means you'll be cruising at higher speeds for a considerable portion of your trip. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining miles. Pay attention to the frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach urban areas.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 292.3 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and M-28. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 257.9 miles in near I 75.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 457.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 257.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 393 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 456 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,307 ft
595 ft
Total Climb
1,364 ft
Total Descent
1,552 ft
Highest Point
1,307 ft
~228.8 mi in
Elevation Range
713 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Trowbridge Park, MI
Full guide →Arriving in Detroit, MI
Full guide →“The D” · Founded 1701
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.
Top landmarks
- • Detroit Institute of Arts — art museum in Detroit, Michigan
- • Michigan Central Station — historic former railroad station in Detroit, Michigan
- • Fisher Building — skyscraper in Detroit, Michigan, United States, including the Fisher Theater
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 292.3 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 229 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 35 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 257.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 393 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 456 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Detroit, MI before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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