The drive from Roosevelt Park, MI to Detroit, MI covers 195 miles and takes about 3h 37m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 96, John C Lodge Freeway, Walter P Reuther Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 163.5 miles on I 96.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.49 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
97.5 miles from Roosevelt Park, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 195 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 37m highway drive covering 195 miles, with most of the trip on I 96 and John C Lodge Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 163.5 miles on I 96.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 96 is the longest continuous segment at about 163.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and John C Lodge Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Coolidge Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 195 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: near the start (Coolidge Road): Navigation decision point; at 100.8 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 176.6 miles (M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Coolidge Road
Turn right onto Coolidge Road
Navigation decision point
7
100.8 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 East: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
5
176.6 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway
Merge onto M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
194.3 mi into trip|~3h 35m 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
194.9 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|Woodward Avenue
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Roosevelt Park, MI to Detroit, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 5 East: Port Huron along the way.
M 5 East: Port Huron
167.6 mi in|~3h 2m|via I 696
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
163.5 mi
2h 55m
John C Lodge Freeway
17.8 mi
23m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.9 mi
10m
Seaway Drive
3.4 mi
4m
West Summit Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
West Larned Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Coolidge Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 163.5 mi, about 2h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roosevelt Park, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Sherwood Road
120 ft·7 sec·Sherwood Road
2
Turn right onto Coolidge Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·Coolidge Road
3
Turn right onto West Summit Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Summit Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 31 BUS
3.4 mi·4 min·Seaway Drive
5
Continue on I 96
97 mi·1 hr 43 min·I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
67 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 96
Toward I 96 East: DetroitUse the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on I 696
8.9 mi·10 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port HuronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto M 10
18 mi·23 min·John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 1BToward Larned Street, DowntownUse the slight left lane.
10
Continue on West Larned Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Larned Street
11
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi·42 sec·Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft·4 sec·Cadillac Square
13
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 97.5 miles from Roosevelt Park, MI, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 163.5 miles.
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 43 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.5 miles or 1h 46m 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 53m
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 Roosevelt Park, 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 Roosevelt Park, MI
This is one driving day of about 195 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Roosevelt Park, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 163.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 97.5 mi from Roosevelt Park, MI
· 1h 46m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.5
0
$20.47
$9.36
Efficient EV
48.8
0
$17.06
$7.80
EV Truck/SUV
78
0
$27.30
$12.48
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Roosevelt Park, MI
Morning
in Roosevelt Park on Saturday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Detroit, MI
Morning
in Detroit on Saturday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 9 to 14 mph70% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 18 at 3:10AM EDT until April 19 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 18 at 3:10AM EDT until April 19 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
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
9 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
3h 37m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Roosevelt Park, MI to Detroit, MI covers 195 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 96, John C Lodge Freeway, Walter P Reuther Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.5 miles from Roosevelt Park, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 195 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: near the start (Coolidge Road): Navigation decision point; at 100.8 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 176.6 miles (M 10 / John C Lodge Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Roosevelt Park, MI to Detroit, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 5 East: Port Huron along the way.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
