Origin
Saint Clair Shores, MI
Afternoon in Saint Clair Shores on Wednesday
Local time
3:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Clair Shores, MI to Farmington Hills, MI
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
34m
Distance
27.5 mi
44 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Clair Shores, MI
fish socks
Farmington Hills, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 27.5-mile drive from Saint Clair Shores to Farmington Hills takes about 34 minutes and is perfect for a single day trip. You'll mainly be on the Walter P Reuther Freeway, with about 83% of the journey on highways, making it a quick and efficient transit. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $4, this route offers a practical way to travel between two points within Michigan's Midwest region. It's a short enough distance that you won't need an overnight stay, offering flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
13.8 miles from Saint Clair Shores, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with the Walter P Reuther Freeway forming the backbone of your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 22.9 miles, allowing for a consistent pace. While the majority of the drive is on high-speed roadways, you'll transition to local roads like East 11 Mile Road and West 11 Mile Road as you approach your destination. This mix means you'll experience the efficiency of freeway travel for most of the 34-minute trip, with a brief shift to a more suburban road setting.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Walter P Reuther Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P Reuther Freeway and East 11 Mile Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Avenue.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 27.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 (Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East 11 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
|
Jefferson Avenue
Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 11 Mile Road
Turn right onto East 11 Mile Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
25.1 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward Farmington Hills, Park&Ride
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward Farmington Hills, Park&Ride
6
25.5 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
Orchard Lake Road
Turn left onto Orchard Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
26.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
West 11 Mile Road
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right 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 Saint Clair Shores, MI to Farmington Hills, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Park&Ride along the way.
Park&Ride
25.1 mi in
|
~29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 22.9 mi | 24m |
| East 11 Mile Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| West 11 Mile Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Orchard Lake Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Farmington Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jefferson Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P Reuther Freeway
— 22.9 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Clair Shores, MI and Farmington Hills, MI.
1
Start on this road
144 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue
129 ft
·
5 sec
·
Jefferson Avenue
3
Turn right onto East 11 Mile Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
East 11 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 696 West
5
Merge onto I 696
23 mi
·
24 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 5
Toward Farmington Hills, Park&Ride
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto Orchard Lake Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Orchard Lake Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West 11 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn right onto Farmington Road
443 ft
·
9 sec
·
Farmington Road
10
Arrive at destination
Farmington Road
Trip Plan
Given the short 34-minute duration and 27.5-mile distance, this trip is best tackled without extended stops, though you have plenty of flexibility. Leaving on a weekday outside of peak morning or evening commute times will help you avoid potential traffic delays, especially as you transition from the freeway. The estimated fuel cost is a low $4, so refueling isn't a major concern. Pay attention as you approach Farmington Hills; the shift from the Walter P Reuther Freeway to local roads like East and West 11 Mile Road requires awareness of changing speed limits and traffic patterns.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 13.8 miles from Saint Clair Shores, MI, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.9 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 27.5 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.8 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Farmington Hills, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Clair Shores, 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 Saint Clair Shores, MI
This is one driving day of about 27.5 miles and 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Clair Shores, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Walter P Reuther Freeway for about 22.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.8 mi from Saint Clair Shores, MI · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 27.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.8 miles from Saint Clair Shores, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Farmington Hills, MI
The final approach into Farmington Hills, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Farmington Hills, MI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.30 one way
$8.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.72 | $9.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.29 | $10.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.07 | $12.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.89 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Farmington Hills, MI
Afternoon in Farmington Hills on Wednesday
Local time
3:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 to 13 mph
87% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 7:33PM EDT until April 21 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 7:33PM EDT until April 18 at 5:00AM 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
13 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
34m 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 Saint Clair Shores, MI to Farmington Hills, MI covers 27.5 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Walter P Reuther Freeway, East 11 Mile Road, West 11 Mile 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 13.8 miles from Saint Clair Shores, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.30 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 27.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 (Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East 11 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Saint Clair Shores, MI to Farmington Hills, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Park&Ride along the way.
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