How far is Detroit, MI from Lake Isabella, MI?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Lake Isabella, MI is about 169.8 miles (273.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 134 miles (215.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
169.83 mi
03h 15m
Flight
133.97 mi
215.6 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Detroit.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
133.97 mi
Kilometers
215.6 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
169.83 mi
Kilometers
273.31 km
Drive Time
03h 15m

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 03h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Isabella
Thu, Apr 16, 9:45 AM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Thu, Apr 16, 1:00 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-04-16T06:29
Arrive Lake Isabella
Thu, Apr 16, 9:45 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:30 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Detroit
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Holt
MI

Unincorporated community in Michigan

From Detroit
84.8 mi
01h 37m
To Lake Isabella
85 mi
01h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 14 mph SSW
Destination
66°F
Thursday

Patchy Fog

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Detroit and Lake Isabella.

  1. 1

    Start on Cadillac Square

    95 m · 13 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

    38.9 mi · 42 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing

    1.1 km · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Ransom E Olds Freeway

    2.8 mi · 3 min · Ransom E Olds Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on US 127 North: Clare

    64 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight left toward US 127 Business: Mount Pleasant

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Business US-127

  15. 15

    Continue on South Mission Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Mission Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto East Broomfield Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · East Broomfield Street

  17. 17

    Continue on East Broomfield Road

    2670 ft · 43 sec · East Broomfield Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto South Lincoln Road

    1 mi · 2 min · South Lincoln Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East Remus Road

    9 mi · 12 min · East Remus Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto South Coldwater Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · South Coldwater Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North Clubhouse Drive

    2471 ft · 2 min · North Clubhouse Drive

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Clubhouse Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Walter P Reuther Freeway
65 mi · 38%
US 127 North
64 mi · 38%
John C Lodge Freeway
17.8 mi · 10%
East Remus Road
9.01 mi · 5%
South Coldwater Road
3.27 mi · 2%
Ransom E Olds Freeway
2.85 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US 127 North

Keep slight right to continue on US 127 North: Clare

64 mi · 01h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
03h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.8 mi
134 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Holt
01h 37m from Detroit
Leave By
10:30 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Detroit and Patchy Fog near Lake Isabella.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Detroit to Lake Isabella?

The road trip is about 169.8 miles (273.3 km) and usually takes 03h 15m 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?

Holt is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.8 miles from Detroit and 85 miles from Lake Isabella.

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

The direct path is about 134 miles (215.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.8 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 10:30 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.59 one way or $45.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Detroit and Patchy Fog near Lake Isabella.

Stop Ideas Near Holt

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

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

RAIL

East Lansing station

9 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road
RAIL

Jackson station

45 mi away
501 E. Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Albion station

48 mi away
300 North Eaton St.
BUS

Owosso, MI

49 mi away
109 Comstock Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Lake Isabella. Straight-line distance: 133.97 mi (215.6 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
Lake Isabella

#2 Lake Isabella

Village in Michigan, United States

Population1,688
Coordinates43.6436400, -84.9972500
Altitude272
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Lake Isabella (-84.99725, 43.64364)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 273 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.99 gal
22.68 L · about $22.59
Round trip
$45.18
11.98 gal · 45.36 L
Estimated CO2
53.2 kg one way
Round trip: 106.5 kg / 235 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.59 $45.18
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.48 $50.95
Premium $4.65 $27.88 $55.75
Diesel $5.30 $31.77 $63.54

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit and Lake Isabella. The current time is 06:29:59.

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.