Origin
Akron, MI
Night in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
9:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Akron, MI to Detroit, MI
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
106.2 mi
171 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Akron, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Akron, MI to Detroit, MI covers 106.2 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I-75 South, State Road, South State Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.7 miles on I-75 South. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
53.1 miles from Akron, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Akron, MI to Detroit, MI covers 106.2 miles and takes about 2h 20m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I-75 South is the longest continuous segment at about 39.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 64.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 106.2 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 64.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 64.9 miles (I 75 / I-75 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.6 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
64.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Detroit
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
5
64.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
I 75 / I-75 South
Merge onto I 75 / I-75 South
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
104.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m 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
105.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m 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
105.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
East Congress Street
Turn right onto East Congress Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I-75 South | 39.7 mi | 43m |
| State Road | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| South State Road | 10.2 mi | 14m |
| North State Road | 10.1 mi | 15m |
| North Ortonville Road | 9.8 mi | 14m |
| North Vassar Road | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| Thomas Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Fairgrove Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I-75 South
— 39.7 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Main Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto M 138
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Beach Street
3
Continue on M 138
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Akron Road
4
Turn slight left onto M 138
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Road
5
Continue on M 138
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
North Main Street
6
Turn right onto M 138
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Street
7
Continue on M 138
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairgrove Road
8
Turn left onto North Vassar Road
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
North Vassar Road
9
Keep slight right at fork onto South Vassar Road
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
South Vassar Road
10
Turn straight onto Waterman Road
237 ft
·
3 sec
·
Waterman Road
11
Keep slight right at fork onto Waterman Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Waterman Road
12
Turn left onto Cottrell Drive
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cottrell Drive
13
Turn left onto M 15
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Saginaw Road
14
Continue on M 15
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Huron Avenue
15
Turn right onto M 15
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
Goodrich Street
16
Continue on M 15
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Goodrich Street
17
Continue on M 15
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
State Road
18
Continue on M 15
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
19
Continue on M 15
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
State Road
20
Continue on M 15
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
South State Street
21
Continue on M 15
10 mi
·
15 min
·
North State Road
22
Continue on M 15
10 mi
·
14 min
·
South State Road
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on M 15
9.8 mi
·
14 min
·
North Ortonville Road
Use the left lane.
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
Use the right lane.
25
Merge onto I 75
40 mi
·
43 min
·
I-75 South
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
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 53.1 miles from Akron, MI, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.7 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 80 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.1 miles or 1h 16m 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 57m
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 Akron, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Akron, MI
This is one driving day of about 106.2 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Akron, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I-75 South for about 39.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.1 mi from Akron, MI · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.1 miles from Akron, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Detroit, MI
The final approach into Detroit, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Detroit, MI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.60 one way
$33.21 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.23 | $36.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.44 | $40.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.45 | $46.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.9 | 0 | $11.15 | $5.10 |
| Efficient EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.29 | $4.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.5 | 0 | $14.87 | $6.80 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Night in Detroit on Tuesday
Local time
9:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 20m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Akron, MI to Detroit, MI covers 106.2 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I-75 South, State Road, South State Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.1 miles from Akron, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.60 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 106.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 64.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 64.9 miles (I 75 / I-75 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.6 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Akron, MI to Detroit, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Detroit, MI
Explore more options from Akron, MI or browse trips ending in Detroit, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.
Explore maps for Akron, MI or Detroit, MI on MapSof.net.