How far is Detroit, MI from Chicago, IL?
The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Chicago, IL is about 281.5 miles (453.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 16m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 238.4 miles (383.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 05h 16m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain then Mostly Cloudy
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Detroit and Chicago.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit and Chicago.
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1
Start on Cadillac Square
95 m · 15 sec · Cadillac Square
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2
Turn right onto Bates Street
75 m · 7 sec · Bates Street
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3
Turn right onto East Congress Street
649 ft · 38 sec · East Congress Street
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4
Turn left onto Griswold Street
635 ft · 26 sec · Griswold Street
-
5
Turn right onto West Jefferson Avenue
1638 ft · 31 sec · West Jefferson Avenue
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6
Continue on John C Lodge Freeway
1.2 km · 1 min · John C Lodge Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Toledo, Flint
97 m · 8 sec
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Toledo
1.2 mi · 2 min
-
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 96 West: Lansing
2406 ft · 44 sec
-
10
Merge slight left onto Jeffries Freeway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Jeffries Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Jeffries Freeway (Express)
14.5 mi · 16 min · Jeffries Freeway (Express)
-
12
Continue straight
17.5 mi · 19 min
-
13
Keep slight left to continue on M 14: Ann Arbor
5.4 mi · 6 min
-
14
Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago
200.6 mi · 3 hr 35 min
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 90, SR 51, US 6 East
1139 ft · 28 sec
-
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East, I 90 Toll Road: Indiana Toll Road, Chicago Skyway
1932 ft · 51 sec
-
17
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Chicago, Chicago Skyway West, Indiana Toll Road West
1 km · 1 min
-
18
Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road
19.2 mi · 21 min · Indiana Toll Road
-
19
Turn straight onto Indiana Toll Road
963 ft · 2 min · Indiana Toll Road
-
20
Merge slight right onto Indiana Toll Road
1.6 km · 2 min · Indiana Toll Road
-
21
Continue on Chicago Skyway
2.9 mi · 5 min · Chicago Skyway
-
22
Turn straight onto Chicago Skyway
724 ft · 18 sec · Chicago Skyway
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23
Merge slight left onto Chicago Skyway
4.1 mi · 6 min · Chicago Skyway
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24
Keep slight left to continue on Chicago Skyway
1987 ft · 31 sec · Chicago Skyway
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25
Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
-
26
Take the exit slight right toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
1620 ft · 40 sec
-
27
Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street
74 m · 7 sec · South Ruble Street
-
28
Turn slight left
23 m · 5 sec
-
29
Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue
887 ft · 26 sec · South Canalport Avenue
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30
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
737 ft · 19 sec · South Halsted Street
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31
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
976 ft · 25 sec · West Cermak Road
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32
Turn left
46 m · 11 sec
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33
Turn right
794 ft · 58 sec
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Detroit and Chicago.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 94 West
Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago
201 mi · 03h 35m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Chance Light Rain then Mostly Cloudy leaving Detroit and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Chicago.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Detroit to Chicago?
The road trip is about 281.5 miles (453.1 km) and usually takes 05h 16m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Portage is a useful midpoint, sitting about 140.5 miles from Detroit and 141.1 miles from Chicago.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 238.4 miles (383.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.1 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:26 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.28 one way or $92.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.3 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Detroit and Chicago, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain then Mostly Cloudy around Detroit and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Chicago.
Stop Ideas Near Portage
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Portage.
Kalamazoo Transportation Center
Battle Creek Transportation Center
Bangor
Dowagiac station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Chicago. Straight-line distance: 238.38 mi (383.63 km).
#1 Detroit
The twenty-fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Detroit metropolitan area.
| Population | 665,369 |
| Coordinates | 42.3314300, -83.0457500 |
| Altitude | 183 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Chicago
The third most populous city in the United States and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area.
| Population | 2,677,643 |
| Coordinates | 41.850033, -87.6500523 |
| Altitude | 179 |
| Country | United States |
End: Chicago (-87.650052, 41.850033)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 453 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 22m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 02m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 37m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 41m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 01m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.66 | $46.28 | $92.56 |
| Mid-grade | $5.30 | $52.64 | $105.28 |
| Premium | $5.88 | $58.48 | $116.95 |
| Diesel | $6.49 | $64.50 | $129.00 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
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