Origin
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
Afternoon in Grosse Pointe Woods on Friday
Local time
3:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grosse Pointe Woods, MI to Southfield, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
20.6 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
fish socks
Southfield, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Grosse Pointe Woods to Southfield is 20.6 miles and takes about 25m via Walter P Reuther Freeway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Michigan's Midwest region, offering a straightforward commute between two suburban areas. With a high percentage of highway driving, it's a quick trip best suited for a single day. You'll primarily be on well-maintained freeway systems, so expect a consistent pace. This route is ideal if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without extensive planning.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 20.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the journey utilizing major freeways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Walter P Reuther Freeway, experiencing an uninterrupted stretch of 14.6 miles. The overall feel is one of consistent speed and direct travel, typical of urban and suburban freeway systems. While not a scenic tour, the route is designed for efficient movement, transitioning smoothly between different freeway segments like the Edsel Ford Freeway. Expect a predictable driving experience with clear lane markings and ample signage.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Walter P Reuther Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P Reuther Freeway and Edsel Ford Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Harper Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 20.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Harper Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (I 94 / Edsel Ford Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Harper Avenue
Turn right onto Harper Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 94 / Edsel Ford Freeway
Merge onto I 94 / Edsel Ford Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
3.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 696 West: Lansing, 11 Mile Road
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 229
Toward I 696 West: Lansing, 11 Mile Road
5
3.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 696 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
7
19 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward Greenfield Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward Greenfield Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 14.6 mi | 15m |
| Edsel Ford Freeway | 3 mi | 3m |
| West 10 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Vernier Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Greenfield Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Harper Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P Reuther Freeway
— 14.6 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grosse Pointe Woods, MI and Southfield, MI.
1
Start on Vernier Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Vernier Road
2
Turn right onto Harper Avenue
82 ft
·
2 sec
·
Harper Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 94 East
4
Merge onto I 94
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 229
Toward I 696 West: Lansing, 11 Mile Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
7
Continue on I 696
15 mi
·
15 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 13
Toward Greenfield Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Greenfield Road
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Greenfield Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto West 10 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 10 Mile Road
11
Arrive at destination
West 10 Mile Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.22 one way
$6.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.54 | $7.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.96 | $7.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.55 | $9.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Southfield, MI
Afternoon in Southfield on Friday
Local time
3:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
3 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
25m 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 Grosse Pointe Woods, MI to Southfield, MI covers 20.6 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Walter P Reuther Freeway, Edsel Ford Freeway, West 10 Mile Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.3 miles from Grosse Pointe Woods, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.22 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 is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 20.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Harper Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (I 94 / Edsel Ford Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Grosse Pointe Woods, MI to Southfield, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
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