Origin
Oak Park, MI
Late night in Oak Park on Friday
Local time
1:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Park, MI to Detroit, MI
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
23m
Distance
14 mi
23 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Park, MI
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute or a simple day trip within Michigan, the 14-mile drive from Oak Park to Detroit is an incredibly efficient option. You can expect to reach your destination in approximately 23 minutes, making it an ideal journey for those who prefer to keep travel time to a minimum. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, this trip is highly budget-friendly. Because of the short distance, you definitely won't need to worry about an overnight stay or complex logistics. This route is entirely contained within the Midwest, offering a straightforward transition between these two neighboring areas. It serves as a practical, no-fuss connection for anyone needing to bridge the gap between these Michigan hubs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 14 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with about 76% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of the John C Lodge Freeway, Schaefer Highway, and Coolidge Highway to reach your destination. The most significant portion of the trip is the 10.6-mile stretch on the John C Lodge Freeway, which provides the bulk of your momentum. Because the route is so short, you will find it moves quickly without the monotony often associated with long-distance interstate travel. Expect a fast-paced environment where you transition from local surface streets onto controlled-access highways for the majority of your transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John C Lodge Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 10.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John C Lodge Freeway and Schaefer Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 14 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West 9 Mile Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Coolidge Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 9 Mile Road
Turn right onto West 9 Mile Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Coolidge Highway
Turn right onto Coolidge Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
James Couzens Freeway
Turn sharp left onto James Couzens Freeway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
13.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward Larned Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward Larned Street, Downtown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Oak Park, MI and Detroit, MI, road signs point toward M 10 South and Downtown.
M 10 South
2.5 mi in
|
~6m
Downtown
13.3 mi in
|
~21m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John C Lodge Freeway | 10.6 mi | 14m |
| Schaefer Highway | 1 mi | 2m |
| Coolidge Highway | 1 mi | 2m |
| West 7 Mile Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Larned Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodward Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 9 Mile Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| James Couzens Freeway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John C Lodge Freeway
— 10.6 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Park, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on this road
67 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
174 ft
·
14 sec
3
Turn right onto Ridgedale Street
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Ridgedale Street
4
Turn right onto West 9 Mile Road
350 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 9 Mile Road
5
Turn right onto Coolidge Highway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Coolidge Highway
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on Schaefer Highway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Schaefer Highway
7
Turn right onto West 7 Mile Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 7 Mile Road
8
Turn sharp left onto James Couzens Freeway
249 ft
·
6 sec
·
James Couzens Freeway
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward M 10 South
10
Merge onto M 10
11 mi
·
14 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 1B
Toward Larned Street, Downtown
Use the slight left lane.
12
Continue on West Larned Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Larned Street
13
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
15
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.19 one way
$4.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.40 | $4.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.69 | $5.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Late night in Detroit on Friday
Local time
1:23 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
23m 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 Oak Park, MI to Detroit, MI covers 14 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John C Lodge Freeway, Schaefer Highway, Coolidge Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7 miles from Oak Park, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.19 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 14 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West 9 Mile Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Coolidge Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Oak Park, MI and Detroit, MI, road signs point toward M 10 South and Downtown.
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