Origin
Ypsilanti, MI
Morning in Ypsilanti on Tuesday
Local time
7:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ypsilanti, 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
44m
Distance
36.2 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ypsilanti, MI
fish socks
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 35.6-mile journey from Ypsilanti to Detroit, Michigan, is a quick 37-minute drive that's perfect for a single day trip. You'll be navigating a mix of local streets and highway, so expect a relatively turn-heavy experience. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, this is a budget-friendly excursion within the Midwest. Since it's so close, you won't need an overnight stay, giving you plenty of flexibility for departure times and potential stops along the way. This route is ideal if you're looking for a straightforward connection between two Michigan cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 31.5 mi | 35m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South Hamilton Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Michigan Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Larned Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodward Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Huron Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cadillac Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 31.5 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ypsilanti, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on US 12 BUS; M 17
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
West Michigan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto US 12 BUS
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hamilton Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 12 BUS
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South Huron Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
5
Merge onto I 94; US 12
31 mi
·
35 min
·
I 94; US 12
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 215A
Toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
7
Merge onto M 10
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 1B
Toward Larned Street, Downtown
Use the slight left lane.
9
Continue on West Larned Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Larned Street
10
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
12
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 35.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 12 BUS / South Hamilton Street
Turn left onto US 12 BUS / South Hamilton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 94; US 12
Merge onto I 94; US 12
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
32.8 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
5
33.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway
Merge onto M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
35.5 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
$5.66 one way
$11.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.21 | $12.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.97 | $13.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.99 | $15.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 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 | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
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
Morning in Detroit on Tuesday
Local time
7:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
18 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
44m 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?
The drive from Ypsilanti to Detroit is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent turns rather than cruising on long stretches of open road. With 0% highway share, this route keeps you grounded on surface streets for its entirety. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests a more engaged driving experience with constant adjustments. Expect to navigate through neighborhoods and commercial areas as you make your way toward Detroit. This isn't a route for setting cruise control; it requires your attention on local traffic patterns.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and John C Lodge Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 12 BUS / South Hamilton Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.2 miles (US 12 BUS / South Hamilton Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (I 94; US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ypsilanti, MI to Detroit, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 10 South: Downtown along the way.
M 10 South: Downtown
32.8 mi in
|
~38m
About the Cities
Starting in Ypsilanti, MI
Full guide →Ypsilanti (ĭp′·sĭ·lăn′·tē, often mispronounced yĭp′·sĭ·lăn′·tē) commonly shortened to Ypsi (ĭp′·sĭ), is a city in Michigan, six miles (10 km) east of Ann Arbor. "Ypsilanti" commonly refers to either or both of the City of Ypsilanti and the Charter Township of Ypsilanti, which lies mostly south of the city, with small portions to both the east and west of the city, and may also include neighboring parts of other townships. The geographic grid center of Ypsilanti is the intersection of the Huron River and Michigan Avenue, the latter of which connects downtown Detroit, Michigan with Chicago, Illinois, and through Ypsilanti is partially concurrent with US-12BR and M-17. It was established as a trading post in 1809 by Gabriel Godfroy, a French-Canadian fur trader from Montreal.
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 44m. Total distance: 36.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.5 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 0.2 miles (US 12 BUS / South Hamilton Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (I 94; US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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