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

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Lake Orion, MI is about 38.5 miles (61.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.8 miles (52.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 35m 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
38.46 mi
00h 47m
Flight
32.82 mi
52.82 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
32.82 mi
Kilometers
52.82 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
38.46 mi
Kilometers
61.89 km
Drive Time
00h 47m

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 00h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Orion
Sun, Apr 19, 4:33 AM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Sun, Apr 19, 5:21 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-04-19T03:45
Arrive Lake Orion
Sun, Apr 19, 4:33 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:48 AM to 10:48 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:54 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
Clawson
MI

City in Oakland County in the U.

From Detroit
19.2 mi
00h 23m
To Lake Orion
19.2 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 to 17 mph W
Destination
44°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 17 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Cadillac Square

    634 ft · 29 sec · Cadillac Square

  2. 2

    Continue on Cadillac Square

    30 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square

  3. 3

    Turn slight left onto Randolph Street

    950 ft · 38 sec · Randolph Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Monroe Street

    2106 ft · 1 min · Monroe Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Chrysler Drive

    10 m · 1 sec · Chrysler Drive

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left

    854 ft · 21 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    30.3 mi · 33 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward M 24: Lapeer

    1010 ft · 25 sec

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    1159 ft · 27 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on M 24 North: Lapeer

    2084 ft · 58 sec

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto South Lapeer Road

    6.3 mi · 10 min · South Lapeer Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Broadway Street

    941 ft · 26 sec · South Broadway Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Broadway Street

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
33.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
30.3 mi · 79%
South Lapeer Road
6.3 mi · 16%
M 24
0.41 mi · 1%
Monroe Street
0.4 mi · 1%
M 24 North
0.39 mi · 1%
Randolph Street
0.18 mi
Longest Stretch

Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

Merge slight left onto Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

30.3 mi · 00h 33m

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
00h 47m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.7 mi
32.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clawson
00h 23m from Detroit
Leave By
4:54 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Detroit and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Lake Orion.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 38.5 miles (61.9 km) and usually takes 00h 47m 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?

Clawson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.2 miles from Detroit and 19.2 miles from Lake Orion.

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

The direct path is about 32.8 miles (52.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.7 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 4:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.13 one way or $10.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Detroit and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Lake Orion.

Stop Ideas Near Clawson

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

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

RAIL

Troy Transit Center

4 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive
RAIL

Birmingham, Michigan

4 mi away
449 South Eton St.
RAIL

Royal Oak station

5 mi away
202 South Sherman Ave.
RAIL

Pontiac Transportation Center

16 mi away
51000 Woodward Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Lake Orion. Straight-line distance: 32.82 mi (52.82 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 Orion

#2 Lake Orion

Village in Michigan, United States

Population3,191
Coordinates42.7844800, -83.2396600
Altitude300
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Lake Orion (-83.23966, 42.78448)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 62 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.36 gal
5.14 L · about $5.13
Round trip
$10.26
2.72 gal · 10.28 L
Estimated CO2
12.1 kg one way
Round trip: 24.2 kg / 53 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.13 $10.26
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.78 $11.57
Premium $4.65 $6.33 $12.66
Diesel $5.30 $7.21 $14.43

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

There is no time difference between Detroit and Lake Orion. The current time is 03:45:38.

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.