Origin
Orchard Lake, MI
Afternoon in Orchard Lake on Saturday
Local time
1:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Orchard Lake, 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
39m
Distance
26.6 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Orchard Lake, MI
Sean Ewing
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 26.6-mile drive from Orchard Lake, MI to Detroit, MI takes approximately 39 minutes and is best suited as a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on major freeways, with 68% of the journey on highways, making it a straightforward commute. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is around $4, so budget is unlikely to be a major concern. This route stays within the Midwest region and Michigan, offering a familiar landscape for travelers. It's a practical option for getting from the suburbs into the heart of the city without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John C Lodge Freeway | 18.2 mi | 23m |
| Northwestern Highway | 4 mi | 6m |
| Orchard Lake Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| West Larned Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodward Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cadillac Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Long Lake Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John C Lodge Freeway
— 18.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orchard Lake, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on West Long Lake Road
61 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Long Lake Road
2
Turn left onto Orchard Lake Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Orchard Lake Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn slight left
267 ft
·
5 sec
4
Continue on M 10
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Northwestern Highway
Use the right lane.
5
Turn straight onto M 10
18 mi
·
23 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 1B
Toward Larned Street, Downtown
Use the slight left lane.
7
Continue on West Larned Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Larned Street
8
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
10
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Orchard Lake Road
Turn left onto Orchard Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
7.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway
Turn straight onto M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
25.9 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
5
26.4 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Woodward Avenue
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
26.6 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
Cadillac Square
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.16 one way
$8.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.57 | $9.13 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.12 | $10.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.87 | $11.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.28 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.33 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.72 | $1.70 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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
1:49 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
2 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
39m 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 highway-focused drive for most of this route. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the John C Lodge Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 18.2 miles. Northwestern Highway and Orchard Lake Road will also play a role in connecting you to the freeway system. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, designed to get you to your destination quickly rather than offering winding scenic byways. It’s a functional drive, prioritizing speed and directness.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on John C Lodge Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John C Lodge Freeway and Northwestern Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Orchard Lake Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 39m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Orchard Lake Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 26.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 miles on John C Lodge Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Orchard Lake Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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