How far is Detroit, MI from Elmwood, MI?
The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Elmwood, MI is about 539.5 miles (868.2 km), with a travel time of about 10h 18m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 395.3 miles (636.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 20h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 10h 18m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Township in Cheboygan County, Michigan, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers
Chance Snow Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Detroit and Elmwood.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit and Elmwood.
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1
Start on Cadillac Square
634 ft · 29 sec · Cadillac Square
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2
Continue on Cadillac Square
30 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square
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3
Turn slight left onto Randolph Street
950 ft · 38 sec · Randolph Street
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4
Turn right onto Monroe Street
2106 ft · 1 min · Monroe Street
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5
At the end of the road, turn left onto Chrysler Drive
10 m · 1 sec · Chrysler Drive
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6
Take the ramp slight left
854 ft · 21 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
60 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw
52.4 mi · 56 min
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9
Keep slight left
62.9 mi · 1 hr 3 min
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10
Keep slight left
117.6 mi · 2 hr 1 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba
1913 ft · 1 min
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12
Merge slight left onto US-2 West
1.1 km · 1 min · US-2 West
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13
Continue on US 2
3.2 mi · 4 min · US 2
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14
Continue on US-2 West
133.4 mi · 2 hr 38 min · US-2 West
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15
Turn right onto County Road 426 M.5 Road
2894 ft · 1 min · County Road 426 M.5 Road
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16
Continue on County 426 M.5 Road
2005 ft · 1 min · County 426 M.5 Road
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17
Turn left onto 18th Road
5.8 mi · 8 min · 18th Road
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18
Continue on I Road
1237 ft · 21 sec · I Road
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19
Turn right onto 18th Road
2.1 mi · 3 min · 18th Road
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20
Continue on G Road
1.5 km · 1 min · G Road
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21
Continue on 17th Road
3.9 mi · 6 min · 17th Road
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22
At the end of the road, turn left onto C Road
1232 ft · 24 sec · C Road
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23
Turn right
41.2 mi · 56 min
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24
Continue straight
6 mi · 7 min
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25
Turn left
12.8 mi · 19 min
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26
Turn right onto North 5th Street
116 m · 12 sec · North 5th Street
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27
Turn left onto Crystal Avenue
28.9 mi · 35 min · Crystal Avenue
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28
Turn right onto Federal Forest Highway 16
4.9 mi · 9 min · Federal Forest Highway 16
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Federal Forest Highway 16
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Detroit and Elmwood.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
US-2 West
Continue on US-2 West
133 mi · 02h 38m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Chance Rain Showers leaving Detroit and Chance Snow Showers near Elmwood.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Detroit to Elmwood?
The road trip is about 539.5 miles (868.2 km) and usually takes 10h 18m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Aloha is a useful midpoint, sitting about 269.5 miles from Detroit and 270 miles from Elmwood.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 395.3 miles (636.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 144.2 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $71.80 one way or $143.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 169.2 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Detroit and Elmwood, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Detroit and Chance Snow Showers near Elmwood.
Stop Ideas Near Aloha
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 Aloha.
Cheboygan, MI
Pellston, Michigan
Alanson, MI
Mackinaw City, Michigan
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Elmwood. Straight-line distance: 395.3 mi (636.17 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 Elmwood
Township in Tuscola County, Michigan
| Population | 1,134 |
| Coordinates | 46.2221700, -88.9098600 |
| Altitude | 495 |
| Country | United States |
End: Elmwood (-88.90986, 46.22217)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 868 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 58m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 29m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 47m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 59m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 42m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 43m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $71.80 | $143.60 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $80.98 | $161.95 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $88.61 | $177.22 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $100.99 | $201.98 |
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 · Apr 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.