Origin
Washington, MI
Morning in Washington on Friday
Local time
10:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington, MI to Detroit, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
33.9 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington, MI
Arian Fernandez
Trip Overview
The drive from Washington, MI to Detroit, MI covers 33.9 miles and takes about 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, Christopher Columbus Freeway, Mound Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.7 miles on South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 33.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 46m highway drive covering 33.9 miles, with most of the trip on South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and Christopher Columbus Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 9.7 miles on South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and Christopher Columbus Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 20 decision points packed into just 33.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
8
9.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West
7
18.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
Keep slight right at fork onto Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West toward I 696 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
8
21.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
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 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
8
22.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I-696 West to I-75 South
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 South toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
6
32.3 mi into trip
|
~43m 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Washington, MI and Detroit, MI, road signs point toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West, Port Huron, Flint and Toledo.
Van Dyke Road North
9.4 mi in
|
~11m
18 ½ Mile Road West
9.4 mi in
|
~11m
Port Huron
18.1 mi in
|
~25m
Flint
21.9 mi in
|
~30m
Toledo
22.1 mi in
|
~31m
|
via I-696 West to I-75 South
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Christopher Columbus Freeway | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| Mound Road | 7.3 mi | 11m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| 18 1/2 Mile Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Van Dyke Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Congress Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 9.7 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on West Road
36 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Road
2
Turn right onto Van Dyke Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Dyke Road
3
Turn right onto 26 Mile Road
187 ft
·
3 sec
·
26 Mile Road
4
Turn slight left
350 ft
·
20 sec
5
Turn left onto 26 Mile Road
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
26 Mile Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward M 53 South
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto M 53
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Christopher Columbus Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 15
Toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West
Use the slight right lane.
9
Enter roundabout onto 18 1/2 Mile Road
184 ft
·
7 sec
·
18 1/2 Mile Road
10
Continue on 18 1/2 Mile Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
18 1/2 Mile Road
11
Turn straight onto Mound Road
7.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Mound Road
Use the right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Mound Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Mound Road
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
14
Keep slight right at fork onto Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 696
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-696 West to I-75 South
Toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
Use the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto I 75
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
133 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chrysler Drive
22
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
449 ft
·
19 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
24
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
25
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17 mi from Washington, MI · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17 miles from Washington, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Detroit, MI
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Detroit, MI if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.30 one way
$10.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.82 | $11.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.52 | $13.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.48 | $14.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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 Friday
Local time
10:06 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
16 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
46m 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 Washington, MI to Detroit, MI covers 33.9 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, Christopher Columbus Freeway, Mound 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 17 miles from Washington, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.30 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 is a short but busy drive. With 20 decision points packed into just 33.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Washington, MI and Detroit, MI, road signs point toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West, Port Huron, Flint and Toledo.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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