Origin
Rochester Hills, MI
Morning in Rochester Hills on Saturday
Local time
11:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rochester Hills, 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
37m
Distance
26.3 mi
42 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 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester Hills, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Detroit, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Rochester Hills to Detroit, you are looking at a straightforward 26.3-mile journey that typically takes about 37 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, as it connects two familiar areas within the Midwest. You can easily manage the entire drive on a fuel budget of approximately $4, making it a very economical commute. Because of the short duration, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or mid-route lodging. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this path offers a direct and efficient way to reach your destination.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 26.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a trip that is heavily highway-focused, with 65% of the total distance spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, which includes the longest uninterrupted stretch of 17.1 miles. Outside of these faster sections, the character of the drive shifts as you transition onto South Rochester Road and South Livernois Road to navigate local areas. The experience is primarily functional, prioritizing speed and connectivity over scenic detours. You should anticipate a transition from suburban road layouts into the more structured grid of the city.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
822 ft
598 ft
Total Climb
20 ft
Total Descent
240 ft
Highest Point
822 ft
~1.9 mi in
Elevation Range
224 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and South Rochester Road. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Downhill Lane.
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 26.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.2 miles (Downhill Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South Livernois Road): Navigation decision point; at 24.7 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Downhill Lane
At end of road, turn right onto Downhill Lane
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Livernois Road
Turn left onto South Livernois Road
Navigation decision point
6
24.7 mi into trip
|
~33m 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
25.5 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
25.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
East Congress Street
Turn right onto East Congress Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 17.1 mi | 19m |
| South Rochester Road | 5.3 mi | 9m |
| South Livernois Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Auburn Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Congress Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Dickson Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodward Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Downhill Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 17.1 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester Hills, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Dickson Lane
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Dickson Lane
2
At end of road, turn right onto Downhill Lane
378 ft
·
18 sec
·
Downhill Lane
3
Turn right onto Dressler Lane
196 ft
·
14 sec
·
Dressler Lane
4
Turn left onto South Livernois Road
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Livernois Road
5
Enter roundabout onto South Livernois Road
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Livernois Road
6
Continue on South Livernois Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Livernois Road
7
Turn left onto West Auburn Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Auburn Road
8
Turn right onto M 150
5.3 mi
·
9 min
·
South Rochester Road
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
10
Merge onto I 75
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
133 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chrysler Drive
14
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
449 ft
·
19 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
16
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
17
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.11 one way
$8.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.51 | $9.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.06 | $10.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.81 | $11.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 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 | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
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
Morning in Detroit on Saturday
Local time
11:48 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
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
37m 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 Rochester Hills, MI to Detroit, MI covers 26.3 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, South Rochester Road, South Livernois Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.2 miles from Rochester Hills, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.11 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 26.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.2 miles (Downhill Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South Livernois Road): Navigation decision point; at 24.7 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Rochester Hills, MI to Detroit, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 598 ft to 822 ft elevation with about 20 ft of total climbing.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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