How far is Buena Vista, MI from Detroit, MI?

The driving distance from Buena Vista, MI to Detroit, MI is about 100 miles (160.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 86.7 miles (139.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
99.95 mi
01h 38m
Flight
86.74 mi
139.6 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Buena Vista.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
86.74 mi
Kilometers
139.6 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
99.95 mi
Kilometers
160.86 km
Drive Time
01h 38m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Detroit
Sun, May 31, 12:27 PM EDT
Return by in Buena Vista
Sun, May 31, 2:05 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Buena Vista
2026-05-31T10:49
Arrive Detroit
Sun, May 31, 12:27 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:38 AM to 11:38 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:14 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Buena Vista
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Holly
MI

Village in north Oakland County in the U.

From Buena Vista
50 mi
00h 49m
To Detroit
50 mi
00h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 6 mph W
Destination
74°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Buena Vista and Detroit.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buena Vista and Detroit.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    74 m · 20 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Perkins Street

    713 ft · 34 sec · Perkins Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto South Outer Drive

    2625 ft · 1 min · South Outer Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East Holland Avenue

    760 ft · 11 sec · East Holland Avenue

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint

    72 m · 14 sec

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint

    1338 ft · 46 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    23.2 mi · 25 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    11 mi · 12 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    63 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Jefferson Avenue East

    1185 ft · 29 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive

    41 m · 9 sec · Chrysler Drive

  13. 13

    Turn right onto East Congress Street

    2674 ft · 2 min · East Congress Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Woodward Avenue

    137 m · 19 sec · Woodward Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Cadillac Square

    39 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cadillac Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Buena Vista and Detroit.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
97.5 mi · 98%
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
0.74 mi · 1%
East Congress Street
0.51 mi · 1%
South Outer Drive
0.5 mi
Jefferson Avenue East
0.22 mi
East Holland Avenue
0.14 mi
Longest Stretch

I 75 South

Keep slight left

63 mi · 01h 08m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 38m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.3 mi
86.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Holly
00h 49m from Buena Vista
Leave By
3:14 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Buena Vista and Sunny near Detroit.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Buena Vista to Detroit?

The road trip is about 100 miles (160.9 km) and usually takes 01h 38m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Holly is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50 miles from Buena Vista and 50 miles from Detroit.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 86.7 miles (139.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:14 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.31 one way or $26.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Buena Vista and Sunny near Detroit.

Stop Ideas Near Holly

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Holly, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Holly.

RAIL

Flint station

25 mi away
1407 South Dort Highway
RAIL

Durand Union Station

32 mi away
200 South Railroad St.
RAIL

Pontiac Transportation Center

33 mi away
51000 Woodward Avenue
RAIL

Lapeer station

39 mi away
73 Howard St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Buena Vista and Detroit. Straight-line distance: 86.74 mi (139.6 km).

Buena Vista

#1 Buena Vista

Unincorporated community in Michigan, United States

Population6,816
Coordinates43.4203000, -83.8985800
Altitude185
CountryUnited States
Detroit

#2 Detroit

The twenty-fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Detroit metropolitan area.

Population665,369
Coordinates42.3314300, -83.0457500
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Start: (-83.898589, 43.421248)
End: Cadillac Square (-83.04575, 42.331399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 161 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.53 gal
13.35 L · about $13.31
Round trip
$26.62
7.06 gal · 26.7 L
Estimated CO2
31.4 kg one way
Round trip: 62.7 kg / 138 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.31 $26.62
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.01 $30.03
Premium $4.65 $16.43 $32.86
Diesel $5.30 $18.72 $37.45

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Michigan · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Buena Vista and Detroit. The current time is 10:49:01.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.