Trip from Burton, MI to Southfield, MI

Drive Time

1h 15m

Distance

53 mi

85 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 12m

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

Downtown Burton, MI, MI

Burton, MI

fish socks

Downtown Southfield, MI, MI

Southfield, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Burton to Southfield, you are looking at a manageable 53-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 15 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a quick day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, it is a highly economical route that requires no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via I-75 South, followed by transitions onto South Center Road and Southfield Road. Because the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your own pace. It is a straightforward transit between two Michigan communities that avoids the need for complex logistics or multiple stopovers.

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

26.5 miles from Burton, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip features a mixed drive profile, blending high-speed interstate travel with local road navigation. You will spend roughly 59% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 29.2 miles along I-75 South. The character of the road changes as you transition from the freeway to the local segments of South Center Road and Southfield Road. While the interstate portion allows for steady cruising, the remainder of the trip requires a shift toward more attentive, lower-speed driving. By the time you reach your destination, you will have experienced a balanced mix of heavy-traffic corridors and residential-adjacent thoroughfares.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 29.2 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 11.3 miles in near I 75 / I-75 South.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 53 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 11.3 miles (I 75 / I-75 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.5 miles (BL I 75): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.6 miles (I 75 BL; US 24 BUS / Woodward Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
11.3 mi into trip | ~20m 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 none lane.
7
40.5 mi into trip | ~51m in | BL I 75

Take the exit onto BL I 75 toward I 75 Business

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 75 Toward I 75 Business
5
42.6 mi into trip | ~54m in | I 75 BL; US 24 BUS / Woodward Avenue

Turn right onto I 75 BL; US 24 BUS / Woodward Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
47.8 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in | West Maple Road

Turn right onto West Maple Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
47.9 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in | Southfield Road

Turn left onto Southfield Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I-75 South 29.2 mi 31m
South Center Road 5.1 mi 8m
Southfield Road 5.1 mi 10m
Woodward Avenue 4.7 mi 7m
South Saginaw Road 3.4 mi 4m
I 75 BL 1.5 mi 2m
South Saginaw Street 1.3 mi 2m
Lippincott Boulevard 0.9 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I-75 South — 29.2 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Burton, MI and Southfield, MI.

1

Start on Amy Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Amy Street
2

Turn left onto Lippincott Boulevard

0.9 mi · 2 min · Lippincott Boulevard
3

Turn left onto South Center Road

5.1 mi · 8 min · South Center Road
4

At end of road, turn left onto South Saginaw Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Saginaw Street
5

Continue on South Saginaw Road

3.4 mi · 4 min · South Saginaw Road
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
7

Merge onto I 75

29 mi · 31 min · I-75 South
Use the none lane.
8

Take the exit onto BL I 75

0.6 mi · 41 sec · BL I 75
Exit 75 Toward I 75 Business Use the slight right lane.
9

Continue on I 75 BL

1.5 mi · 2 min · I 75 BL
Use the none lane.
10

Turn right onto I 75 BL; US 24 BUS

119 ft · 2 sec · Woodward Avenue
Use the right lane.
11

Turn slight left

410 ft · 17 sec
12

Turn slight left onto I 75 BL; US 24 BUS

4.7 mi · 7 min · Woodward Avenue
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
13

Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Oakland Avenue
14

Keep slight left at fork onto Oakland Avenue

240 ft · 12 sec · Oakland Avenue
15

Turn slight right onto Willits Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Willits Street
16

Keep slight left at fork onto North Chester Street

326 ft · 14 sec · North Chester Street
17

Turn right onto West Maple Road

0.1 mi · 24 sec · West Maple Road
Use the right lane.
18

Turn left onto Southfield Road

5.1 mi · 10 min · Southfield Road
Use the none lane.
19

Turn right onto West 10 Mile Road

192 ft · 4 sec · West 10 Mile Road
Use the none lane.
20

Arrive at destination

West 10 Mile Road

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 15 minute drive, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever it suits your schedule. However, given that much of the route relies on I-75 South, it is wise to check local traffic reports before leaving to avoid potential congestion on that 29.2-mile highway stretch. You will not need to plan for any formal stops along the way, but keep in mind that the trip requires no mid-journey refueling if you start with a full tank. Focus on navigating the transition from the interstate to Southfield Road carefully, as local road conditions can vary compared to the open freeway. Because the total distance is only 53 miles, treat this as a simple, direct commute rather than a long-haul haul.

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 26.5 miles from Burton, MI, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.2 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 53 miles or 1h 15m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 26.5 miles or 37m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southfield, MI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Burton, 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 Burton, MI

This is one driving day of about 53 miles and 1h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Burton, 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 29.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 26.5 mi from Burton, MI · 37m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Detroit, MI

27 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.

Popular next leg

Detroit, MI to Southfield, MI

15.2 mi · 22m

Pacing Suggestions

Ann Arbor, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Canton, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.5 miles from Burton, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Southfield, MI

The final approach into Southfield, 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 Southfield, 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

$8.05 one way

$16.10 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $8.87 $17.75
premium $4.80 $10.01 $20.01
diesel $5.64 $11.77 $23.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.9 0 $5.56 $2.54
Efficient EV 13.3 0 $4.64 $2.12
EV Truck/SUV 21.2 0 $7.42 $3.39

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Burton, MI

Evening in Burton on Sunday

Local time

6:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Southfield, MI

Evening in Southfield on Sunday

Local time

6:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°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

4 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 15m 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 Burton, MI to Southfield, MI covers 53 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I-75 South, South Center Road, Southfield Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.5 miles from Burton, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.05 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 13 significant decision points across 53 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 11.3 miles (I 75 / I-75 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.5 miles (BL I 75): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.6 miles (I 75 BL; US 24 BUS / Woodward Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Burton, MI to Southfield, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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