How far is Detroit, MI from Lawrence, MI?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Lawrence, MI is about 166 miles (267.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 153.9 miles (247.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 06m 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
165.99 mi
03h 03m
Flight
153.85 mi
247.59 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
153.85 mi
Kilometers
247.59 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
165.99 mi
Kilometers
267.13 km
Drive Time
03h 03m

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 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lawrence
Fri, Oct 16, 12:13 AM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Fri, Oct 16, 3:16 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-10-15T21:10
Arrive Lawrence
Fri, Oct 16, 12:13 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:03 AM to 11:03 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
10:54 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

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
Sandstone
MI

Township in Jackson County, Michigan

From Detroit
82.8 mi
01h 31m
To Lawrence
83.2 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
This Afternoon

Slight Chance Light Rain

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 3:00 PM EDT
Wind
10 mph E
Destination
47°F
Tonight

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 PM EDT
Wind
8 to 17 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.2 km · 1 min · John C Lodge Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Toledo, Flint

    97 m · 8 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Toledo

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 96 West: Lansing

    2406 ft · 44 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Jeffries Freeway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Jeffries Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Jeffries Freeway (Express)

    14.5 mi · 16 min · Jeffries Freeway (Express)

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    17.5 mi · 19 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on M 14: Ann Arbor

    5.4 mi · 6 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago

    119 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Lawrence

    1398 ft · 53 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto 52nd Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · 52nd Street

  17. 17

    Continue on South Paw Paw Street

    3008 ft · 2 min · South Paw Paw Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto West Saint Joseph Street

    13 m · 1 sec · West Saint Joseph Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Saint Joseph Street

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 West
119 mi · 72%
Jeffries Freeway (Express)
32 mi · 19%
M 14
5.36 mi · 3%
Jeffries Freeway
4.81 mi · 3%
I 75 South
1.22 mi · 1%
52nd Street
0.89 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 94 West

Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago

119 mi · 02h 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 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.1 mi
153.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sandstone
01h 31m from Detroit
Leave By
10:54 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Light Rain leaving Detroit and Showers And Thunderstorms near Lawrence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 166 miles (267.1 km) and usually takes 03h 03m 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?

Sandstone is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.8 miles from Detroit and 83.2 miles from Lawrence.

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

The direct path is about 153.9 miles (247.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.1 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:54 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.92 one way or $53.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Light Rain around Detroit and Showers And Thunderstorms near Lawrence.

Stop Ideas Near Sandstone

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

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

RAIL

Jackson station

10 mi away
501 E. Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Albion station

20 mi away
300 North Eaton St.
RAIL

East Lansing station

52 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road
RAIL

Battle Creek Transportation Center

55 mi away
104 Capital Ave. S.W.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Lawrence. Straight-line distance: 153.85 mi (247.59 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
Lawrence

#2 Lawrence

Village in Michigan, United States

Population970
Coordinates42.2192100, -86.0514100
Altitude209
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Lawrence (-86.05141, 42.21921)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 267 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.86 gal
22.17 L · about $26.92
Round trip
$53.84
11.72 gal · 44.34 L
Estimated CO2
52.1 kg one way
Round trip: 104.2 kg / 230 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.59 $26.92 $53.84
Mid-grade $5.25 $30.74 $61.48
Premium $5.85 $34.25 $68.50
Diesel $6.48 $37.97 $75.95

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit and Lawrence. The current time is 21:10:39.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.