Origin
Suttons Bay, MI
Evening in Suttons Bay on Thursday
Local time
6:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Suttons Bay, MI to Detroit, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 18m
Distance
272.7 mi
439 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 5m
★
6 AM
5h 18m
8 AM
5h 45m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 25m
3 PM
5h 29m
5 PM
5h 44m
8 PM
5h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Suttons Bay, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Suttons Bay, MI to Detroit, MI covers 272.7 miles and takes about 5h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, M-72 West, South West Bay Shore Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 198.2 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
136.4 miles from Suttons Bay, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 52m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 18m. Total distance: 272.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 18m highway drive covering 272.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and M-72 West. The longest continuous stretch is about 198.2 miles on I 75.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 198.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and M-72 West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.6 miles in near East Eighth Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 272.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.6 miles (East Eighth Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.4 miles (BL I 75; M 72 / North James Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 72.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
16.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
East Eighth Street
Turn left onto East Eighth Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
67.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
BL I 75; M 72 / North James Street
Turn right onto BL I 75; M 72 / North James Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
72.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
6
208.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 6m in
|
I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
271.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 14m 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.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 198.2 mi | 3h 27m |
| M-72 West | 31 mi | 42m |
| South West Bay Shore Drive | 14.8 mi | 21m |
| East M 72 | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| BL I 75 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| US 31 North | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| East Eighth Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| North Cedar Street | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 198.2 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Suttons Bay, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on North Front Street
339 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Front Street
2
Turn right onto East Madison Street
166 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Madison Street
3
Turn left onto M 22
442 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Saint Josephs Avenue
4
Continue on M 22
15 mi
·
21 min
·
South West Bay Shore Drive
5
Turn slight left onto M 22
95 ft
·
6 sec
·
South West Bay Shore Drive
6
Turn left onto M 22; M 72
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Grandview Parkway
7
Turn right onto North Union Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
North Union Street
8
Turn left onto East Eighth Street
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
East Eighth Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto US 31; M 72
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Munson Avenue
10
Continue on US 31; M 72
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
US 31 North
11
Turn right onto M 72
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East M 72
12
Enter roundabout onto M 72
116 ft
·
5 sec
·
East M 72
13
Continue on M 72
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
East M 72
14
Enter roundabout onto M 72
114 ft
·
1 sec
·
East M 72
15
Continue on M 72
7.2 mi
·
9 min
·
East M 72
16
Continue on M 72
7.7 mi
·
10 min
·
M-72 West
17
Continue on M 72
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Mile Road Northwest
18
Turn right onto US 131; M 72; M 66
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Cedar Street
19
Turn left onto M 72; M 66
23 mi
·
31 min
·
M-72 West
20
Continue on M 72; M 93
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
M 72; M 93
Use the right lane.
21
Turn right onto BL I 75; M 72
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North James Street
Use the right lane.
22
Take the exit onto BL I 75
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
BL I 75
Toward I 75 South
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
124 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 75; US 23
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
133 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chrysler Drive
29
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
30
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
449 ft
·
19 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
31
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
32
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 136.4 miles from Suttons Bay, MI, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198.2 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 60 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.4 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
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 Suttons Bay, 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 Suttons Bay, MI
This is one driving day of about 272.7 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Suttons Bay, 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 75 for about 198.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 136.4 mi from Suttons Bay, MI · 2h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.4 miles from Suttons Bay, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 198.2 miles.
Arriving in Detroit, MI
The final approach into Detroit, 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 Detroit, MI.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.63 one way
$85.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $46.81 | $93.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $52.48 | $104.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.21 | $120.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.8 | 1 | $28.63 | $13.09 |
| Efficient EV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.86 | $10.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.1 | 1 | $38.18 | $17.45 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Evening in Detroit on Thursday
Local time
6:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
West Branch, MI
136 mi in
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
5h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Suttons Bay, MI to Detroit, MI covers 272.7 miles and takes about 5h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, M-72 West, South West Bay Shore Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.4 miles from Suttons Bay, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.63 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 272.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.6 miles (East Eighth Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.4 miles (BL I 75; M 72 / North James Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 72.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Suttons Bay, MI to Detroit, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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