Origin
Waterford, MI
Evening in Waterford on Sunday
Local time
6:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterford, MI to Southfield, MI
Drive Time
36m
Distance
21.8 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southfield, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Waterford to Southfield, you are looking at a manageable 21.8-mile journey through the Michigan Midwest. Expect to spend about 36 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a quick one-day trip. With a fuel budget of just $3, it is a highly economical route that requires no overnight stops. Because the drive is entirely local, you will avoid the stress of highway congestion. This is a straightforward, functional transit that gets you from point A to point B without any unnecessary detours.
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
10.9 miles from Waterford, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged throughout the entire 21.8-mile stretch. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on surface streets like Williams Lake Road, Airport Road, and Highland Road. With a 0% highway share, you will navigate through local traffic rather than cruising at high speeds on an expressway. There is no long-distance highway cruising here, as the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Williams Lake Road. Expect a consistent, hands-on driving experience that demands your full attention at every turn.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Williams Lake 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Waterford, MI to Southfield, MI is easy. At 36m 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 Waterford, MI to Southfield, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Williams Lake Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Airport Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highland Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Huron Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Voorheis Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Telegraph Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Telegraph Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 696 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Williams Lake Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterford, MI and Southfield, MI.
1
Start on David K Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
David K Drive
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Williams Lake Road
246 ft
·
9 sec
·
Williams Lake Road
3
Turn right onto Airport Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Airport Road
4
Turn left onto Highland Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Highland Road
5
Continue on West Huron Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Huron Street
6
Turn right onto Voorheis Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Voorheis Street
7
Turn right onto South Telegraph Road
11 mi
·
17 min
·
South Telegraph Road
8
Continue on Telegraph Road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Telegraph Road
9
Take the ramp slight right toward I 696 East, M 10 South: Port Huron, Detroit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 696 East, M 10 South: Port Huron, Detroit
10
Merge slight left onto John C Lodge Freeway
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
11
Take the exit slight right toward 10 Mile Road, Evergreen Road
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
10 Mile Road, Evergreen Road
12
Turn straight onto Northwestern Highway
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Northwestern Highway
13
Turn left onto West 10 Mile Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West 10 Mile Road
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 36-minute excursion, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You do not need to worry about long-haul pacing or planning for multiple stops, as the direct nature of the route means you can complete it comfortably in one go. Given the turn-heavy profile of the local roads, stay alert for frequent intersections and changing traffic patterns as you transition between Williams Lake, Airport, and Highland roads. Keep your $3 fuel budget in mind, but remember that the convenience of this trip lies in its brevity. Take advantage of the lack of highway travel to enjoy a more relaxed, local-paced commute.
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 10.9 miles from Waterford, MI, or about 18m into the drive.
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 21.8 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.9 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southfield, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waterford, 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 Waterford, MI
This is one driving day of about 21.8 miles and 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waterford, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.9 mi from Waterford, MI · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 21.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.9 miles from Waterford, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Southfield, MI
The final approach into Southfield, 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 Southfield, 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
$3.31 one way
$6.62 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.65 | $7.30 |
| premium | $4.80 | $4.12 | $8.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.84 | $9.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.05 | $1.40 |
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
Southfield, MI
Evening in Southfield on Sunday
Local time
6:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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
36m 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 Southfield, MI covers 21.8 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Williams Lake Road, Airport Road, Highland Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.9 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 $3.31 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 Waterford, MI to Southfield, MI is easy. At 36m 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 Waterford, MI to Southfield, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waterford, MI to Southfield, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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