Origin
City of Auburn Hills, MI
Night in City of Auburn Hills on Wednesday
Local time
11:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Auburn Hills, MI to Madison Heights, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
23m
Distance
18.8 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison Heights, MI
Josh Sorenson
Trip Overview
The drive from City of Auburn Hills, MI to Madison Heights, MI covers 18.8 miles and takes about 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, North Opdyke Road, East 11 Mile Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.2 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.94 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
9.4 miles from City of Auburn Hills, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 23m highway drive covering 18.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and North Opdyke Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 16.2 miles on I 75.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.2 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
957 ft
632 ft
Total Climb
28 ft
Total Descent
353 ft
Highest Point
957 ft
Elevation Range
325 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and North Opdyke Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Opdyke Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (North Opdyke Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (University Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Opdyke Road
At end of road, turn left onto North Opdyke Road
Navigation decision point
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
University Drive
Turn sharp left onto University Drive
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Detroit
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
17.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward 11 Mile Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 11 Mile Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 16.2 mi | 17m |
| North Opdyke Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East 11 Mile Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| John R Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| University Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Stephenson Highway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Cowan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 16.2 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Auburn Hills, MI and Madison Heights, MI.
1
Start on this road
45 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
58 ft
·
6 sec
3
Turn right
378 ft
·
33 sec
4
At end of road, turn left onto North Opdyke Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Opdyke Road
5
Turn sharp left onto University Drive
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
University Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 75
16 mi
·
17 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward 11 Mile Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto North Stephenson Highway
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Stephenson Highway
10
Turn left onto East 11 Mile Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 11 Mile Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn right onto John R Road
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
John R Road
12
Turn right onto West Cowan Avenue
24 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Cowan Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
West Cowan Avenue
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 9.4 miles from City of Auburn Hills, MI, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.2 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 18.8 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.4 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison Heights, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving City of Auburn Hills, MI.
Day 1
Settle into the route from City of Auburn Hills, MI
This is one driving day of about 18.8 miles and 23m.
At 18.8 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 16.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.4 mi from City of Auburn Hills, MI · 11m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.4 miles from City of Auburn Hills, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Madison Heights, MI
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Madison Heights, MI if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.94 one way
$5.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.23 | $6.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.62 | $7.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.15 | $8.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Madison Heights, MI
Night in Madison Heights on Wednesday
Local time
11:04 PM
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
5 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
23m 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 City of Auburn Hills, MI to Madison Heights, MI covers 18.8 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, North Opdyke Road, East 11 Mile Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.4 miles from City of Auburn Hills, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.94 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Opdyke Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (University Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from City of Auburn Hills, MI to Madison Heights, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 632 ft to 957 ft elevation with about 28 ft of total climbing.
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