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Trip from Detroit, MI to Metamora, MI

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 9m

Distance

51.7 mi

83 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m

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

Downtown Metamora, MI, MI

Metamora, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

The drive from Detroit, MI to Metamora, MI covers 51.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, South Lapeer Road, North Lapeer Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.3 miles on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.08 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 51.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

The drive from Detroit, MI to Metamora, MI covers 51.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m, 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 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 30.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cadillac Square.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 11 key points

These 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
7
31.2 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward M 24: Lapeer

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 81 Toward M 24: Lapeer

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 Metamora, MI, road signs point toward M 24: Lapeer and M 24 North: Lapeer.

M 24: Lapeer

31.2 mi in | ~36m

M 24 North: Lapeer

31.6 mi in | ~36m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway 30.3 mi 33m
South Lapeer Road 9 mi 14m
North Lapeer Road 8.5 mi 11m
South Washington Street 1 mi 2m
West Dryden Road 0.8 mi 1m
West High Street 0.5 mi 1m
Monroe Street 0.4 mi 1m
I 75 BL 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Walter P. Chrysler Freeway — 30.3 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Metamora, 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

30 mi · 33 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Flint Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 81 Toward M 24: Lapeer Use the slight right lane.
9

Continue on I 75 BL

0.2 mi · 27 sec · I 75 BL
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 58 sec
Toward M 24 North: Lapeer
11

Turn straight onto M 24

9.0 mi · 14 min · South Lapeer Road
Use the right lane.
12

Continue on M 24

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Washington Street
13

Continue on M 24

8.5 mi · 11 min · North Lapeer Road
Use the right lane.
14

Turn right onto West Dryden Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Dryden Road
15

Continue on West High Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West High Street
16

Turn right onto South Oak Street

56 ft · 2 sec · South Oak Street
17

Arrive at destination

South Oak Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 25.8 mi from Detroit, MI · 30m into the drive

city and county seat of Oakland County, Michigan, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pontiac, MI

26 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

Royal Oak, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rochester Hills, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.8 miles from Detroit, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Metamora, MI

The final approach into Metamora, 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

$8.08 one way

$16.17 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.87 $17.75
premium $4.89 $9.95 $19.90
diesel $5.61 $11.41 $22.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.5 0 $5.43 $2.48
Efficient EV 12.9 0 $4.52 $2.07
EV Truck/SUV 20.7 0 $7.24 $3.31

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Detroit, MI

Night in Detroit on Thursday

Local time

9:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Metamora, MI

Night in Metamora on Thursday

Local time

9:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

13 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 9m 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 Metamora, MI covers 51.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, South Lapeer Road, North Lapeer Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.8 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 $8.08 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 51.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 Metamora, MI, road signs point toward M 24: Lapeer and M 24 North: Lapeer.

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