Origin
Waterford, MI
Evening in Waterford on Wednesday
Local time
8:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterford, MI to Detroit, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
51m
Distance
38.2 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterford, MI
Adrien Olichon
Trip Overview
This 38.2-mile drive from Waterford to Detroit, Michigan, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 51 minutes. It's ideal as a single-day excursion, with a modest fuel cost estimated at $6. The route primarily utilizes major roadways, making it a practical choice for getting from the Midwest region into the heart of Detroit. You'll find this drive to be efficient, with no overnight stays recommended. It’s a good option when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
19.1 miles from Waterford, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for about 70% of this journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26.6 miles on the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, offering a consistent pace. You'll navigate a mix of freeway driving and some local road segments, including Dixie Highway and East Huron Street. The character of the road shifts from open freeway to more built-up areas as you approach Detroit, so be prepared for potential changes in traffic patterns and speed limits.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 26.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and Dixie Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.6 miles in near M 59 / East Huron Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 38.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.6 miles (M 59 / East Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
7.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
M 59 / East Huron Street
Turn left onto M 59 / East Huron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
10.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South: Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
6
36.6 mi into trip
|
~48m 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.
6
37.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward Jefferson Avenue East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
6
37.6 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
East Congress Street
Turn right onto East Congress Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 26.6 mi | 29m |
| Dixie Highway | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| East Huron Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Cesar E. Chavez Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Williams Lake Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Congress Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| David K Drive | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Oakland Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 26.6 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterford, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on David K Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
David K Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Williams Lake Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Williams Lake Road
3
Turn right onto US 24
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Dixie Highway
4
Continue on US 24 BUS
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Cesar E. Chavez Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on Oakland Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
6
Turn straight onto North Saginaw Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Saginaw Street
7
Turn left onto M 59
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Huron Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 40A
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 75
26 mi
·
28 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 375
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Jefferson Avenue East
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
133 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chrysler Drive
13
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Congress Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
449 ft
·
19 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
15
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
16
Arrive at destination
Cadillac Square
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this 51-minute trip, you have considerable flexibility in when you depart. Leaving Waterford mid-morning or early afternoon can help you avoid peak commuter times into Detroit. With only 38.2 miles, you won't need extensive rest stops, and the estimated $6 fuel cost is minimal. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition from Walter P. Chrysler Freeway to Dixie Highway, as this is where the driving environment changes most noticeably.
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 19.1 miles from Waterford, MI, or about 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.6 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 38 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19.1 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Detroit, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Waterford, MI.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waterford, MI
This is one driving day of about 38.2 miles and 51m.
At 38.2 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway for about 26.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.1 mi from Waterford, MI · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.1 miles from Waterford, 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
$5.97 one way
$11.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.56 | $13.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.35 | $14.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.43 | $16.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.01 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.34 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Evening in Detroit on Wednesday
Local time
8:04 PM
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
3 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
51m 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 Waterford, MI to Detroit, MI covers 38.2 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, Dixie Highway, East Huron Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.1 miles from Waterford, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.97 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 10 decision points packed into just 38.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.6 miles (M 59 / East Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles (I 375 / Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Waterford, MI to Detroit, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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