How far is Detroit, MI from Jefferson, MI?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Jefferson, MI is about 76.6 miles (123.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 65.5 miles (105.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 27m 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
76.53 mi
01h 43m
Flight
65.49 mi
105.4 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
65.49 mi
Kilometers
105.4 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
76.53 mi
Kilometers
123.16 km
Drive Time
01h 43m

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 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jefferson
Thu, Apr 23, 8:08 AM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Thu, Apr 23, 9:52 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-04-23T06:24
Arrive Jefferson
Thu, Apr 23, 8:08 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:44 AM to 11:44 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:02 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
Ypsilanti
MI

City in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States

From Detroit
38.2 mi
00h 51m
To Jefferson
38.3 mi
00h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    2.5 mi · 4 min · John C Lodge Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward I 94 West: Chicago

    1845 ft · 39 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight right onto Edsel Ford Freeway

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Edsel Ford Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on Detroit Industrial Expressway

    18.7 mi · 20 min · Detroit Industrial Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Detroit Industrial Expressway

    10 mi · 11 min · Detroit Industrial Expressway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 12 West: Saline

    2046 ft · 57 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto West Michigan Avenue

    33.1 mi · 49 min · West Michigan Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto M-50

    2.4 mi · 4 min · M-50

  14. 14

    Continue on Brooklyn Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Brooklyn Road

  15. 15

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Marshall Street

    2978 ft · 59 sec · Marshall Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Jefferson Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Jefferson Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Hewitt Road

    1114 ft · 49 sec · Hewitt Road

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Hewitt Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Michigan Avenue
33.1 mi · 43%
Detroit Industrial Expressway
28.7 mi · 37%
Edsel Ford Freeway
4.47 mi · 6%
John C Lodge Freeway
2.53 mi · 3%
M-50
2.39 mi · 3%
Jefferson Road
1.76 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

West Michigan Avenue

Merge slight left onto West Michigan Avenue

33.1 mi · 00h 49m

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 43m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.1 mi
65.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ypsilanti
00h 51m from Detroit
Leave By
3:02 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Detroit and Mostly Sunny near Jefferson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 76.6 miles (123.2 km) and usually takes 01h 43m 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?

Ypsilanti is a useful midpoint, sitting about 38.2 miles from Detroit and 38.3 miles from Jefferson.

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

The direct path is about 65.5 miles (105.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:02 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.18 one way or $20.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 24 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Ypsilanti

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

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

RAIL

Ann Arbor station

12 mi away
325 Depot Street
RAIL

Greenfield Village, Michigan

31 mi away
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
RAIL

John D. Dingell Transit Center

35 mi away
16121 Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Detroit

47 mi away
11 West Baltimore Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Jefferson. Straight-line distance: 65.49 mi (105.4 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
Jefferson

#2 Jefferson

City in Jackson County, Georgia, United States

Population2,998
Coordinates42.1089300, -84.2899500
Altitude304
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Jefferson (-84.28995, 42.10893)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 123 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.7 gal
10.22 L · about $10.18
Round trip
$20.36
5.4 gal · 20.44 L
Estimated CO2
24 kg one way
Round trip: 48 kg / 106 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $10.18 $20.36
Mid-grade $4.25 $11.48 $22.97
Premium $4.65 $12.57 $25.13
Diesel $5.30 $14.32 $28.64

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit and Jefferson. The current time is 06:24:29.

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.