Origin
Long Lake, MI
Afternoon in Long Lake on Monday
Local time
1:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Lake, MI to Detroit, MI
Drive Time
2h 53m
Distance
185.3 mi
298 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Lake, MI
Jacob Postuma
Trip Overview
The drive from Long Lake, MI to Detroit, MI covers 185.3 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Wilson Creek Road, Wilson Creek, Long Lake Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.15 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.6 miles from Long Lake, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 53m drive with frequent turns across 185.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Wilson Creek 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 Long Lake, MI to Detroit, MI is easy. At 2h 53m 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 Long Lake, MI to Detroit, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Wilson Creek Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wilson Creek | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Long Lake Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Webb | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Putnam Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Esmond Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Wilson Creek Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Lake, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Long Lake Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Long Lake Road
2
Continue on North Wilson Creek Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
North Wilson Creek Road
3
Continue on Wilson Creek
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Wilson Creek
4
Continue on Long Lake Road
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Long Lake Road
5
Continue on West Webb
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Webb
6
Keep slight right to continue on West Webb
492 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Webb
7
Continue on Putnam Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Putnam Road
8
Turn left onto West Esmond Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Esmond Road
9
Continue on West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Main Street
10
Turn right onto State Highway 65
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
State Highway 65
11
Continue on M 65
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
M 65
12
Continue on State Highway 65
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 65
13
Continue on North Bullock Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Bullock Street
14
Continue on State Highway 65
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 65
15
Continue on Hale Road
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Hale Road
16
Continue on State Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
17
Continue on North Hale Road
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Hale Road
18
Turn right onto West Huron Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Huron Road
19
Continue on Center Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Road
20
Continue on West Huron Road
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
West Huron Road
21
Continue on North Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
22
Turn right onto West Cedar Street
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Cedar Street
23
Continue on West M-61
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West M-61
24
Take the ramp left toward I 75 South: Saginaw
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 75 South: Saginaw
25
Merge slight left onto Saginaw
65 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
Saginaw
26
Keep slight left
11 mi
·
11 min
27
Keep slight left
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
28
Keep slight left to continue on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
29
Take the exit slight right toward Jefferson Avenue East
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Jefferson Avenue East
30
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
135 ft
·
9 sec
·
Chrysler Drive
31
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Congress Street
32
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
449 ft
·
19 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
33
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
128 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
34
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 92.6 miles from Long Lake, MI, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.6 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Detroit, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Long Lake, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Long Lake, MI
This is one driving day of about 185.3 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Long Lake, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92.6 mi from Long Lake, MI · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92.6 miles from Long Lake, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Detroit, MI
The final approach into Detroit, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Detroit, MI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.15 one way
$56.29 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $31.03 | $62.05 |
| premium | $4.80 | $34.98 | $69.96 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $41.17 | $82.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.46 | $8.89 |
| Efficient EV | 46.3 | 0 | $16.21 | $7.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.1 | 0 | $25.94 | $11.86 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 Monday
Local time
1:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
18 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
2h 53m 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 Long Lake, MI to Detroit, MI covers 185.3 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Wilson Creek Road, Wilson Creek, Long Lake Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92.6 miles from Long Lake, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.15 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Long Lake, MI to Detroit, MI is easy. At 2h 53m 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 Long Lake, MI to Detroit, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Long Lake, MI to Detroit, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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