Origin
Detroit, MI
Afternoon in Detroit on Friday
Local time
2:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Detroit, MI to Waterloo, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
65.9 mi
106 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Detroit, MI to Waterloo, MI covers 65.9 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on M 14, Jeffries Freeway (Express), I 94 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.8 miles on M 14. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 65.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Detroit, MI to Waterloo, MI covers 65.9 miles and takes about 1h 20m, 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 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
M 14 is the longest continuous segment at about 22.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.9 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
8
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 75: Toledo, Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 75: Toledo, Flint
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 South: Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South: Toledo
7
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 96 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
8
39.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
M 14
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14 toward M 14: Ann Arbor
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45
Toward M 14: Ann Arbor
7
58.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Old US 12, Pierce Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Old US 12, Pierce Road
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 Waterloo, MI, road signs point toward M 14: Ann Arbor and Old Us 12.
M 14: Ann Arbor
39.9 mi in
|
~46m
|
via M 14
Old Us 12
58.6 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| M 14 | 22.8 mi | 24m |
| Jeffries Freeway (Express) | 14.5 mi | 15m |
| I 94 | 13.3 mi | 14m |
| Jeffries Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Waterloo Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Pierce Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Bush Road | 2.1 mi | 5m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
M 14
— 22.8 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Waterloo, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
7
Take the exit
318 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 2A
Toward I 75: Toledo, Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 75 South: Toledo
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 96
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Jeffries Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Jeffries Freeway (Express)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on M 14
17 mi
·
18 min
·
M 14
13
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
M 14
Exit 45
Toward M 14: Ann Arbor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 94
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 94
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Old US 12, Pierce Road
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on Pierce Road
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Pierce Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
At end of road, turn left onto Bush Road
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Bush Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto Waterloo Road
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Waterloo Road
19
Turn slight left
222 ft
·
16 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33 mi from Detroit, MI · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Detroit, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waterloo, MI
The final approach into Waterloo, 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
$10.30 one way
$20.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.31 | $22.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.68 | $25.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.55 | $29.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.92 | $3.16 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.23 | $4.22 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Waterloo, MI
Afternoon in Waterloo on Friday
Local time
2:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Plymouth, MI
33 mi in
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
2 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 20m 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 Waterloo, MI covers 65.9 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are M 14, Jeffries Freeway (Express), I 94. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33 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 $10.30 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 65.9 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Detroit, MI and Waterloo, MI, road signs point toward M 14: Ann Arbor and Old Us 12.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Detroit, MI or browse trips ending in Waterloo, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.