How far is Charleston, MI from Detroit, MI?

The driving distance from Charleston, MI to Detroit, MI is about 114.7 miles (184.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 93.5 miles (150.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 08m 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
114.71 mi
02h 04m
Flight
93.52 mi
150.51 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Charleston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
93.52 mi
Kilometers
150.51 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
114.71 mi
Kilometers
184.6 km
Drive Time
02h 04m

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 02h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Detroit
Tue, May 12, 10:21 PM EDT
Return by in Charleston
Wed, May 13, 12:26 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charleston
2026-05-12T20:17
Arrive Detroit
Tue, May 12, 10:21 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:04 AM to 12:04 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:22 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charleston
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
Marysville
MI

City in Saint Clair County, Michigan, United States of America

From Charleston
56.8 mi
01h 02m
To Detroit
57.9 mi
01h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph S
Destination
61°F
Tuesday

Patchy Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 14 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charleston and Detroit.

  1. 1

    Start on Charleston Road

    6 m · 3 sec · Charleston Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Bay City Forestville Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Bay City Forestville Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Cedar Avenue

    2802 ft · 1 min · Cedar Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 3rd Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · 3rd Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Lakeshore Road

    15.4 mi · 23 min · Lakeshore Road

  6. 6

    Continue on North Ridge Street

    1 km · 51 sec · North Ridge Street

  7. 7

    Continue on South Lakeshore Road

    10.4 mi · 12 min · South Lakeshore Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Main Street

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Main Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Lakeshore Road

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Lakeshore Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Kimball Drive

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Kimball Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on Lakeshore Road

    4.4 mi · 5 min · Lakeshore Road

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto 24th Avenue

    2.5 mi · 3 min · 24th Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Pine Grove Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Pine Grove Avenue

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Pine Grove Connector

    1761 ft · 25 sec · Pine Grove Connector

  15. 15

    Take the exit straight toward I 69 West, I 94 West

    1865 ft · 45 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    2.3 mi · 2 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    56 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Toledo, Flint

    1.5 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Jefferson Avenue East

    1185 ft · 29 sec

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive

    41 m · 9 sec · Chrysler Drive

  23. 23

    Turn right onto East Congress Street

    2674 ft · 2 min · East Congress Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Woodward Avenue

    137 m · 19 sec · Woodward Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Cadillac Square

    39 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cadillac Square

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
26 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 69 West
58.7 mi · 51%
Lakeshore Road
27.5 mi · 24%
South Lakeshore Road
10.4 mi · 9%
Bay City Forestville Road
3.34 mi · 3%
Kimball Drive
2.88 mi · 3%
24th Avenue
2.48 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 69 West

Keep slight left

56 mi · 01h 03m

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
02h 04m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.2 mi
93.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Marysville
01h 02m from Charleston
Leave By
2:22 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Charleston and Patchy Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Detroit.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charleston to Detroit?

The road trip is about 114.7 miles (184.6 km) and usually takes 02h 04m 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?

Marysville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 56.8 miles from Charleston and 57.9 miles from Detroit.

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

The direct path is about 93.5 miles (150.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.2 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 2:22 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.27 one way or $30.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 36 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Charleston and Patchy Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Detroit.

Stop Ideas Near Marysville

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Marysville, 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 Marysville.

RAIL

Port Huron

6 mi away
2223 16th Street
RAIL

Lapeer station

68 mi away
73 Howard St.
RAIL

Birmingham, Michigan

71 mi away
449 South Eton St.
RAIL

Troy Transit Center

71 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charleston and Detroit. Straight-line distance: 93.52 mi (150.51 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Charleston

Township in Sanilac County, Michigan, United States

Population2,048
Coordinates43.6591800, -82.6860400
Altitude228
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: Charleston Road (-82.686109, 43.659188)
End: Cadillac Square (-83.04575, 42.331399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 185 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.05 gal
15.32 L · about $15.27
Round trip
$30.55
8.1 gal · 30.64 L
Estimated CO2
36 kg one way
Round trip: 72 kg / 159 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $15.27 $30.55
Mid-grade $4.25 $17.22 $34.45
Premium $4.65 $18.85 $37.70
Diesel $5.30 $21.48 $42.96

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Charleston and Detroit. The current time is 20:17:27.

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.