Skip to main content

Trip from Detroit, MI to Temperance, MI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 5m

Distance

54.1 mi

87 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
1h 1m ★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m

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

Downtown Temperance, MI, MI

Temperance, MI

Jill Burrow

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick trip from Detroit to Temperance, you are looking at a straightforward 54.1-mile drive that typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes. This Midwest journey is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to handle in one go without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $8 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable option for travelers. You will primarily utilize the Detroit-Toledo Expressway and the Fisher Freeway to navigate the distance efficiently. Since this is a highway-focused drive, it offers a practical, no-nonsense path between these two Michigan locations.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 54.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a trip dominated by high-speed transit, as 80% of your travel time will be spent on the highway. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Detroit-Toledo Expressway, which features a 28.8-mile stretch that serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the drive. The experience is largely defined by this interstate grind, providing a consistent pace before you eventually transition onto East Samaria Road for the final leg. While the Fisher Freeway helps you clear the urban area quickly, the overall personality of the route is utilitarian and fast-paced. It is a functional drive that favors efficiency over winding, technical backroads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bates Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

624 ft 576 ft

Total Climb

85 ft

Total Descent

61 ft

Highest Point

624 ft

~50.2 mi in

Elevation Range

48 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Detroit, MI to Temperance, MI is easy. At 1h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Detroit, MI to Temperance, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Bates Street
East Congress Street
Griswold Street
West Jefferson Avenue
John C Lodge Freeway
I 75
I 75 South
Fisher Freeway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Bates Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Temperance, MI.

1

Start on Cadillac Square

312 ft · 15 sec · Cadillac Square
2

Turn right onto Bates Street

246 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 · 26 sec · Griswold Street
5

Turn right onto West Jefferson Avenue

0.3 mi · 31 sec · West Jefferson Avenue
6

Continue on John C Lodge Freeway

0.8 mi · 1 min · John C Lodge Freeway
7

Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Toledo, Flint

318 ft · 8 sec · I 75: Toledo, Flint
8

Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Toledo

1.2 mi · 2 min · I 75 South: Toledo
9

Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Toledo

0.2 mi · 31 sec · I 75 South: Toledo
10

Merge slight left onto Fisher Freeway

1.7 mi · 2 min · Fisher Freeway
11

Keep slight left to continue on Fisher Freeway

12 mi · 13 min · Fisher Freeway
12

Continue on Detroit-Toledo Expressway

29 mi · 30 min · Detroit-Toledo Expressway
13

Take the exit slight right toward Luna Pier

0.5 mi · 1 min · Luna Pier
14

Turn right onto Luna Pier Road

1.8 mi · 2 min · Luna Pier Road
15

Continue on Lakeside Road

1.7 mi · 2 min · Lakeside Road
16

Continue on East Samaria Road

2.5 mi · 3 min · East Samaria Road
17

Turn left onto Lewis Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Lewis Avenue
18

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27 mi from Detroit, MI · 32m into the drive

city in Wayne County, Michigan, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Southgate, 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Dearborn, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Southgate, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27 miles from Detroit, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Temperance, MI

The final approach into Temperance, 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

$8.46 one way

$16.92 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.29 $18.57
premium $4.89 $10.41 $20.82
diesel $5.61 $11.94 $23.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.2 0 $5.68 $2.60
Efficient EV 13.5 0 $4.73 $2.16
EV Truck/SUV 21.6 0 $7.57 $3.46

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 as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Detroit, MI

Afternoon in Detroit on Thursday

Local time

3:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely

SW 13 to 16 mph 74% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 12:06AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 12:04AM EDT until April 17 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Destination

Temperance, MI

Afternoon in Temperance on Thursday

Local time

3:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Rain Showers Likely

SW 14 to 17 mph 65% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 12:06AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 12:04AM EDT until April 17 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 5m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Temperance, MI covers 54.1 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bates Street, East Congress Street, Griswold Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27 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 $8.46 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.
The drive from Detroit, MI to Temperance, MI is easy. At 1h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Detroit, MI to Temperance, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Detroit, MI to Temperance, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 576 ft to 624 ft elevation with about 85 ft of total climbing.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Temperance, MI to Detroit, MI

Plan the drive back the other way.

53.5 mi 1h 5m

Explore more options from Detroit, MI or browse trips ending in Temperance, MI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.

Explore maps for Detroit, MI or Temperance, MI on MapSof.net.