Origin
Detroit, MI
Afternoon in Detroit on Thursday
Local time
3:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Detroit, MI to Highland, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
44.7 mi
72 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland, MI
Francesco Ungaro
Trip Overview
The drive from Detroit, MI to Highland, MI covers 44.7 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on John C Lodge Freeway, I 96, Walter P Reuther Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.8 miles on John C Lodge Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 44.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 2m highway drive covering 44.7 miles, with most of the trip on John C Lodge Freeway and I 96. The longest continuous stretch is about 17.8 miles on John C Lodge Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John C Lodge Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John C Lodge Freeway and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Bates Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 (Bates Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Griswold Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (M 10 / West Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 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
|
Bates Street
Turn right onto Bates Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Griswold Street
Turn left onto Griswold Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
M 10 / West Jefferson Avenue
Turn right onto M 10 / West Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
18.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward I 696 West: Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 18C
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
7
35.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward Milford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 155B
Toward Milford
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 Detroit, MI to Highland, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Milford along the way.
Milford
35.5 mi in
|
~44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John C Lodge Freeway | 17.8 mi | 23m |
| I 96 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 8.2 mi | 8m |
| Milford Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| North Milford Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Peters Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| General Motors Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West Jefferson Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John C Lodge Freeway
— 17.8 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Highland, MI.
1
Start on Cadillac Square
313 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cadillac Square
2
Turn right onto Bates Street
247 ft
·
7 sec
·
Bates Street
3
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Congress Street
4
Turn left onto Griswold Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Griswold Street
5
Turn right onto M 10
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Jefferson Avenue
6
Continue on M 10
18 mi
·
23 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 18C
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 696
8.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 96
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 155B
Toward Milford
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto Milford Road
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Milford Road
Use the right lane.
12
At end of road, turn right onto General Motors Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
General Motors Road
13
Turn left onto West Huron Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Huron Street
14
Continue on Peters Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Peters Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto West Commerce Street
434 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Commerce Street
16
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Highland Avenue
17
Turn left onto North Milford Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Milford Road
18
Turn right
173 ft
·
12 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.3 mi from Detroit, MI · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from Detroit, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Highland, MI
The final approach into Highland, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.99 one way
$13.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.67 | $15.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.60 | $17.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.87 | $19.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Highland, MI
Afternoon in Highland on Thursday
Local time
3:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
7 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
1h 2m 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 Detroit, MI to Highland, MI covers 44.7 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John C Lodge Freeway, I 96, Walter P Reuther 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 22.3 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 $6.99 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 44.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 (Bates Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Griswold Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (M 10 / West Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Detroit, MI to Highland, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Milford along the way.
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