Origin
La Salle, MI
Afternoon in La Salle on Saturday
Local time
3:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Salle, MI to Detroit, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
45.5 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Salle, MI
Antonio Garcia Prats
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 45.5-mile drive from La Salle, MI, to Detroit, MI, will take you approximately 54 minutes. It's an ideal day trip, easily completed in a single day with no need for an overnight stay. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 91% of your journey on the interstate. Expect a fuel cost of around $7 for this trip. Since both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, you'll remain in familiar territory throughout this short excursion. It's a practical option for getting between these two Michigan points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 26.4 mi | 28m |
| Fisher Freeway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| South Otter Creek Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Grand River Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Dixie Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Griswold Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodward Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Fisher Drive West | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 26.4 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Salle, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Laplaisance Road
72 ft
·
6 sec
·
Laplaisance Road
2
Turn left onto M 125
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Dixie Highway
3
Turn left onto South Otter Creek Road
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South Otter Creek Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 75 North: Detroit
5
Merge onto I 75
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 75
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Fisher Freeway
Toward I 75
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Fisher Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 50
Toward Grand River Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on Fisher Drive West
442 ft
·
16 sec
·
Fisher Drive West
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto M 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand River Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Griswold Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Griswold Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Michigan Avenue
341 ft
·
15 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
13
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
179 ft
·
6 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on Woodward Avenue
124 ft
·
8 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
15
Continue on Woodward Avenue
231 ft
·
14 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
16
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
17
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from La Salle, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 45.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 North: Detroit
Navigation decision point
Toward I 75 North: Detroit
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
40.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 75 / Fisher Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Fisher Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
44.4 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Grand River Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50
Toward Grand River Avenue
7
45.4 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
Woodward Avenue
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.11 one way
$14.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.81 | $15.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.76 | $17.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.05 | $20.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.78 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Afternoon in Detroit on Saturday
Local time
3:32 PM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
54m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 91% of the drive utilizing major interstates like I-75 and Fisher Freeway. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 26.4 miles on I-75, offering a consistent pace. The journey transitions from roads like South Otter Creek Road to the faster-paced interstate system, making for a relatively smooth and direct trip. The character of the drive is largely about efficient travel rather than scenic detours.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.4 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Fisher Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
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 13 decision points packed into just 45.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.6 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 45.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.4 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Detroit, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.6 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Detroit, MI before heading back.
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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