Origin
Royal Oak, MI
Afternoon in Royal Oak on Thursday
Local time
1:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Royal Oak, MI to Auburn Hills, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
27m
Distance
21.6 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Royal Oak, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn Hills, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Royal Oak, MI to Auburn Hills, MI covers 21.6 miles and takes about 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 11 Mile Road, Stephenson Highway, I 75 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 21.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 27m drive with frequent turns across 21.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 11 Mile Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Royal Oak, MI to Auburn Hills, MI is easy. At 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Royal Oak, MI to Auburn Hills, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 11 Mile Road | — | — |
| Stephenson Highway | — | — |
| I 75 North | — | — |
| North Walter P | — | — |
| M 24 | — | — |
| I 75 | — | — |
| Shimmons Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 11 Mile Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Royal Oak, MI and Auburn Hills, MI.
1
Start on the route
125 ft
·
11 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 11 Mile Road
3
Turn left onto Stephenson Highway
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Stephenson Highway
4
Take the ramp slight left toward I 75 North
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 75 North
5
Merge slight left onto North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
18 mi
·
19 min
·
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
6
Take the exit slight right toward M 24: Lapeer
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
M 24: Lapeer
7
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 75 Business South: Pontiac
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 75 Business South: Pontiac
9
Turn left
89 ft
·
4 sec
10
Turn left
154 ft
·
7 sec
11
Exit the roundabout onto Shimmons Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Shimmons Road
12
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.38 one way
$6.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.71 | $7.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.16 | $8.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Auburn Hills, MI
Afternoon in Auburn Hills on Thursday
Local time
1:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
27m 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 Royal Oak, MI to Auburn Hills, MI covers 21.6 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 11 Mile Road, Stephenson Highway, I 75 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.8 miles from Royal Oak, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.38 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.
The drive from Royal Oak, MI to Auburn Hills, MI is easy. At 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Royal Oak, MI to Auburn Hills, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Royal Oak, MI to Auburn Hills, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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