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Trip from Mount Morris, MI to Detroit, MI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 25m

Distance

75.7 mi

122 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 19m ★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Mount Morris, MI, MI

Mount Morris, MI

David Leonhardt

Trip Overview

This 75.7-mile drive from Mount Morris to Detroit, Michigan, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-75 and the UAW Freeway, this route is heavily highway-focused, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of around $12, it's an economical option for a quick journey within the Midwest region. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, as this drive is designed for efficient travel, allowing you to reach your destination without significant interruption.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 75.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for 96% of this 75.7-mile journey. The primary arteries are I-75 and the UAW Freeway, offering a predominantly high-speed driving environment. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 59.3 miles on I-75, meaning extended periods of consistent cruising. While the profile is highway-centric, the transition onto North Saginaw Street may offer a slight change in pace as you approach Detroit. Overall, this drive is characterized by its efficient, direct connection between its Midwest starting and ending points.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 59.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and UAW Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: Navigation decision point; at 14.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.1 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 475 South

Navigation decision point

Toward I 475 South
5
14.8 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 75

Merge onto I 75

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
74.1 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
74.8 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in

Take the exit toward Jefferson Avenue East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Jefferson Avenue East
6
75.1 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in | East Congress Street

Turn right onto East Congress Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 59.3 mi 1h 4m
UAW Freeway 13 mi 13m
North Saginaw Street 1.4 mi 2m
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway 0.7 mi 1m
East Congress Street 0.5 mi 1m
Woodward Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Walker Street <0.1 mi <1m
Chrysler Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 59.3 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mount Morris, MI and Detroit, MI.

1

Start on Walker Street

215 ft · 9 sec · Walker Street
2

Turn right onto North Saginaw Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Saginaw Street
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 475 South
4

Merge onto I 475

13 mi · 13 min · UAW Freeway
5

Merge onto I 75

59 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 375

0.7 mi · 1 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue East Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive

133 ft · 8 sec · Chrysler Drive
9

Turn right onto East Congress Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
10

Turn right onto Woodward Avenue

449 ft · 19 sec · Woodward Avenue
11

Turn right onto Cadillac Square

126 ft · 4 sec · Cadillac Square
12

Arrive at destination

Cadillac Square

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 37.8 mi from Mount Morris, MI · 42m into the drive

Downtown Waterford, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waterford, MI

38 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.

Popular next leg

Waterford, MI to Detroit, MI

38.2 mi · 51m

Pacing Suggestions

Grand Blanc, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pontiac, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.8 miles from Mount Morris, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.83 one way

$23.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.99 $25.99
premium $4.89 $14.57 $29.14
diesel $5.61 $16.71 $33.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.7 0 $7.95 $3.63
Efficient EV 18.9 0 $6.62 $3.03
EV Truck/SUV 30.3 0 $10.60 $4.84

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Mount Morris, MI

Afternoon in Mount Morris on Thursday

Local time

2:05 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Detroit, MI

Afternoon in Detroit on Thursday

Local time

2:05 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

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

1h 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 Mount Morris, MI to Detroit, MI covers 75.7 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, UAW Freeway, North Saginaw Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.8 miles from Mount Morris, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.83 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 75.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: Navigation decision point; at 14.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.1 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Mount Morris, MI to Detroit, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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