Origin
Waterford, MI
Late night in Waterford on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterford, MI to Detroit, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
38.2 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterford, MI
Adrien Olichon
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 38.2-mile drive from Waterford to Detroit, Michigan, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 51 minutes. It's ideal as a single-day excursion, with a modest fuel cost estimated at $6. The route primarily utilizes major roadways, making it a practical choice for getting from the Midwest region into the heart of Detroit. You'll find this drive to be efficient, with no overnight stays recommended. It’s a good option when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 26.6 mi | 29m |
| Dixie Highway | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| East Huron Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Cesar E. Chavez Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Williams Lake Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Congress Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| David K Drive | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Oakland Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 26.6 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterford, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on David K Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
David K Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Williams Lake Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Williams Lake Road
3
Turn right onto US 24
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Dixie Highway
4
Continue on US 24 BUS
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Cesar E. Chavez Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on Oakland Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
6
Turn straight onto North Saginaw Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Saginaw Street
7
Turn left onto M 59
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Huron Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 40A
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 75
26 mi
·
28 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
133 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chrysler Drive
13
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
449 ft
·
19 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
15
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
16
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.1 miles from Waterford, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 7.6 and 37.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
M 59 / East Huron Street
Turn left onto M 59 / East Huron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
10.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South: Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
6
36.6 mi into trip
|
~48m 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
37.4 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
37.6 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
East Congress Street
Turn right onto East Congress Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.97 one way
$11.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.56 | $13.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.35 | $14.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.43 | $16.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.01 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.34 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Late night in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
3 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
51m 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-focused experience for about 70% of this journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26.6 miles on the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, offering a consistent pace. You'll navigate a mix of freeway driving and some local road segments, including Dixie Highway and East Huron Street. The character of the road shifts from open freeway to more built-up areas as you approach Detroit, so be prepared for potential changes in traffic patterns and speed limits.
70% 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: 26.6 mi on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and Dixie Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.6 miles in near M 59 / East Huron Street.
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 38.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.6 miles (M 59 / East Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 38.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.6 miles on Walter P. Chrysler 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 7.6 miles (M 59 / East Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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