Origin
Farmington Hills, MI
Morning in Farmington Hills on Thursday
Local time
6:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Farmington Hills, MI to Detroit, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
34m
Distance
24.1 mi
39 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Farmington Hills, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Farmington Hills to Detroit is a quick, straightforward trip covering 24.1 miles. You can expect to spend about 34 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel cost of approximately $4, it is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion within the Midwest. The route relies heavily on major freeways, ensuring you reach the city center efficiently. Because the entire drive takes place within Michigan, you will experience a familiar, consistent regional atmosphere throughout the journey. It is a practical, no-nonsense commute that allows you to maximize your time once you arrive at your destination.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 24.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m 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
This 34-minute journey is defined by its high-speed, highway-focused nature, with 87% of the route taking place on freeways. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating the Walter P Reuther Freeway and the John C Lodge Freeway. The latter provides the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip, carrying you for 17.8 miles as you head toward the city. While West 11 Mile Road helps bridge the gap between suburban Farmington Hills and the freeway system, the character of the road is primarily about consistent, fast-paced travel. Expect a functional, efficient drive rather than a winding scenic tour.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 11 Mile Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Farmington Hills, MI to Detroit, MI is easy. At 34m 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 Farmington Hills, MI to Detroit, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 11 Mile Road | — | — |
| Orchard Lake Road | — | — |
| I 696 East | — | — |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | — | — |
| John C Lodge Freeway | — | — |
| Larned Street | — | — |
| West Larned Street | — | — |
| Woodward Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 11 Mile Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington Hills, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Farmington Road
443 ft
·
17 sec
·
Farmington Road
2
Turn left onto West 11 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West 11 Mile Road
3
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Orchard Lake Road
4
Continue on Orchard Lake Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Orchard Lake Road
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 696 East: Detroit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
I 696 East: Detroit
6
Merge slight left onto Walter P Reuther Freeway
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
7
Merge slight left onto John C Lodge Freeway
18 mi
·
23 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
8
Take the exit slight left toward Larned Street, Downtown
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Larned Street, Downtown
9
Continue on West Larned Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Larned Street
10
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
11
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
128 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
12
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.77 one way
$7.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.14 | $8.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.64 | $9.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.32 | $10.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.53 | $1.16 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.11 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Detroit, MI
Morning in Detroit on Thursday
Local time
6:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
16 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
34m 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 Farmington Hills, MI to Detroit, MI covers 24.1 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 11 Mile Road, Orchard Lake Road, I 696 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12 miles from Farmington Hills, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.77 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 Farmington Hills, MI to Detroit, MI is easy. At 34m 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 Farmington Hills, MI to Detroit, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Farmington Hills, MI to Detroit, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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