How far is Detroit, MI from Howell, MI?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Howell, MI is about 55.2 miles (88.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 48.9 miles (78.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 13m 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
55.27 mi
01h 06m
Flight
48.9 mi
78.7 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Detroit.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
48.9 mi
Kilometers
78.7 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
55.27 mi
Kilometers
88.95 km
Drive Time
01h 06m

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 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Howell
Sun, Apr 26, 10:38 PM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Sun, Apr 26, 11:45 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-04-26T21:31
Arrive Howell
Sun, Apr 26, 10:38 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:16 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Detroit
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
Novi
MI

City in Michigan, USA

From Detroit
27.6 mi
00h 33m
To Howell
27.7 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph NE
Destination
64°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Cadillac Square

    95 m · 15 sec · Cadillac Square

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Bates Street

    75 m · 7 sec · Bates Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Congress Street

    649 ft · 38 sec · East Congress Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Griswold Street

    635 ft · 26 sec · Griswold Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West Jefferson Avenue

    1638 ft · 31 sec · West Jefferson Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on John C Lodge Freeway

    17.8 mi · 23 min · John C Lodge Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward I 696 West: Lansing

    2310 ft · 56 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Walter P Reuther Freeway

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    17.9 mi · 19 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    9 mi · 10 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward CR D19: Howell, Pinckney

    1110 ft · 43 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Pinckney Road

    1882 ft · 40 sec · Pinckney Road

  13. 13

    Continue on South Michigan Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · South Michigan Avenue

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Michigan Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
25.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Walter P Reuther Freeway
35.1 mi · 64%
John C Lodge Freeway
17.8 mi · 32%
South Michigan Avenue
0.71 mi · 1%
I 696 West
0.44 mi · 1%
Pinckney Road
0.36 mi · 1%
West Jefferson Avenue
0.31 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Walter P Reuther Freeway

Merge slight right

17.9 mi · 00h 19m

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 06m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.3 mi
48.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Novi
00h 33m from Detroit
Leave By
4:16 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Detroit and Mostly Sunny near Howell.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 55.2 miles (88.9 km) and usually takes 01h 06m 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?

Novi is a useful midpoint, sitting about 27.6 miles from Detroit and 27.7 miles from Howell.

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

The direct path is about 48.9 miles (78.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.3 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 4:16 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.35 one way or $14.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Detroit and Mostly Sunny near Howell.

Stop Ideas Near Novi

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

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

RAIL

Pontiac Transportation Center

23 mi away
51000 Woodward Avenue
RAIL

Troy Transit Center

24 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive
RAIL

Birmingham, Michigan

24 mi away
449 South Eton St.
RAIL

Royal Oak station

27 mi away
202 South Sherman Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Howell. Straight-line distance: 48.9 mi (78.7 km).

Detroit

#1 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
Howell

#2 Howell

Human settlement in Livingston County, Michigan, United States of America

Population7,247
Coordinates42.6072600, -83.9294000
Altitude284
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Howell (-83.9294, 42.60726)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 89 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.95 gal
7.38 L · about $7.35
Round trip
$14.71
3.9 gal · 14.76 L
Estimated CO2
17.3 kg one way
Round trip: 34.7 kg / 77 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.35 $14.71
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.29 $16.59
Premium $4.65 $9.08 $18.15
Diesel $5.30 $10.34 $20.69

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 27, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit and Howell. The current time is 21:31:11.

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.