Origin
Detroit, MI
Morning in Detroit on Wednesday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Detroit, MI to Alpena, MI
Data updated 53 minutes ago
Drive Time
4h 46m
Distance
250.4 mi
403 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 33m
★
6 AM
4h 46m
8 AM
5h 13m
10 AM
4h 56m
12 PM
4h 53m
3 PM
4h 57m
5 PM
5h 12m
8 PM
4h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alpena, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Detroit, MI to Alpena, MI covers 250.4 miles and takes about 4h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, State Highway 65, Walter P. Chrysler Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.15 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.2 miles from Detroit, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 4h 46m highway drive covering 250.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and State Highway 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 79 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 32 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 79 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and State Highway 65. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cadillac Square.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 250.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Cadillac Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Monroe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Chrysler Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 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
|
Cadillac Square
Continue onto Cadillac Square toward M 3 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward M 3 North
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Monroe Street
Turn right onto Monroe Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Chrysler Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Chrysler Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Merge onto I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway toward I 75 North: Flint
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Flint
6
250.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 45m in
|
US 23 / East Chisholm Street
Turn right onto US 23 / East Chisholm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Detroit, MI and Alpena, MI, road signs point toward M 61: Standish and Gladwin.
M 61: Standish
139.9 mi in
|
~2h 30m
Gladwin
139.9 mi in
|
~2h 30m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 79 mi | 1h 22m |
| State Highway 65 | 60.3 mi | 1h 10m |
| Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 60 mi | 1h 5m |
| M 32 | 15.7 mi | 20m |
| M 65 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| West Huron Road | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| North Hale Road | 4 mi | 4m |
| South State Road | 3.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 79 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Alpena, MI.
1
Start on Cadillac Square
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Cadillac Square
2
Continue on Cadillac Square
97 ft
·
3 sec
·
Cadillac Square
Toward M 3 North
Use the left lane.
3
Turn slight left onto M 3
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Randolph Street
4
Turn right onto Monroe Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Monroe Street
Use the right lane.
5
At end of road, turn left onto Chrysler Drive
34 ft
·
1 sec
·
Chrysler Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
7
Merge onto I 375
60 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
52 mi
·
56 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
27 mi
·
26 min
·
I 75; US 23
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward M 61: Standish, Gladwin
11
Turn right onto M 61
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
M-61
12
Continue on M 61
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cedar Street
13
Turn left onto US 23
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
14
Continue on US 23
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
West Huron Road
15
Continue on US 23
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Center Road
16
Continue on US 23
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Huron Road
17
Turn left onto M 65
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Hale Road
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on M 65
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
19
Continue on M 65
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Hale Road
20
Continue on M 65
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 65
21
Continue on M 65
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Bullock Street
22
Continue on M 65
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 65
23
Continue on M 65
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
M 65
24
Continue on M 65
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 65
25
Continue on M 65
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
M 65
26
Continue on M 65
11 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 65
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on M 65
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Baker Road
28
Continue on M 65
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South State Road
29
Continue on M 65
39 mi
·
44 min
·
State Highway 65
30
Continue on M 32; M 65
16 mi
·
20 min
·
M 32; M 65
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Turn right onto US 23
273 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Chisholm Street
Use the right lane.
32
Arrive at destination
US 23
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125.2 miles from Detroit, MI, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.2 miles or 2h 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 3h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alpena, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Detroit, 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 Detroit, MI
This is one driving day of about 250.4 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Detroit, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 79 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 125.2 mi from Detroit, MI · 2h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 125.2 miles from Detroit, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79 miles.
Arriving in Alpena, MI
The final approach into Alpena, 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 Alpena, 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
$39.15 one way
$78.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $42.98 | $85.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $48.19 | $96.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.29 | $110.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.1 | 0 | $26.29 | $12.02 |
| Efficient EV | 62.6 | 0 | $21.91 | $10.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.2 | 1 | $35.06 | $16.03 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Alpena, MI
Morning in Alpena on Wednesday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
8 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
4h 46m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Detroit, MI to Alpena, MI covers 250.4 miles and takes about 4h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, State Highway 65, Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 125.2 miles from Detroit, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.15 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 250.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Cadillac Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Monroe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Chrysler Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Detroit, MI and Alpena, MI, road signs point toward M 61: Standish and Gladwin.
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