How far is Detroit, MI from Madison Heights, MI?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Madison Heights, MI is about 12.6 miles (20.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 11.1 miles (17.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
12.55 mi
00h 17m
Flight
11.09 mi
17.85 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Detroit.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
11.09 mi
Kilometers
17.85 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
12.55 mi
Kilometers
20.19 km
Drive Time
00h 17m

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 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Madison Heights
Mon, Jun 1, 8:33 PM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Mon, Jun 1, 8:51 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-06-01T20:15
Arrive Madison Heights
Mon, Jun 1, 8:33 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:18 AM to 7:18 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Detroit
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Hamtramck
MI

City in Michigan

From Detroit
6.3 mi
00h 08m
To Madison Heights
6.3 mi
00h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Tonight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 6:00 PM EDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph NE
Destination
52°F
Tonight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 6:00 PM EDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Detroit and Madison Heights.

  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

    10.7 mi · 12 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward 11 Mile Road

    1070 ft · 23 sec

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto Stephenson Highway

    731 ft · 21 sec · Stephenson Highway

  10. 10

    Turn right onto West Lincoln Avenue

    2186 ft · 1 min · West Lincoln Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto John R Road

    858 ft · 26 sec · John R Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto West Cowan Avenue

    7 m · 1 sec · West Cowan Avenue

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Cowan Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
13 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
104 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
10.7 mi · 86%
West Lincoln Avenue
0.41 mi · 3%
Monroe Street
0.4 mi · 3%
11 Mile Road
0.2 mi · 2%
Randolph Street
0.18 mi · 1%
Chrysler Drive
0.17 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

Merge slight left onto Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

10.7 mi · 00h 12m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 17m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.5 mi
11.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hamtramck
00h 08m from Detroit
Leave By
7:54 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Detroit and Mostly Clear near Madison Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Detroit to Madison Heights?

The road trip is about 12.6 miles (20.2 km) and usually takes 00h 17m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hamtramck is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.3 miles from Detroit and 6.3 miles from Madison Heights.

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

The direct path is about 11.1 miles (17.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.5 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.66 one way or $3.32 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Detroit and Mostly Clear near Madison Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Hamtramck

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

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

RAIL

Detroit

3 mi away
11 West Baltimore Ave.
RAIL

Royal Oak station

13 mi away
202 South Sherman Ave.
RAIL

John D. Dingell Transit Center

15 mi away
16121 Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Greenfield Village, Michigan

19 mi away
20900 Oakwood Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Madison Heights. Straight-line distance: 11.09 mi (17.85 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
Madison Heights

#2 Madison Heights

City in Oakland County, Michigan, USA

Population29,633
Coordinates42.4858700, -83.1052000
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Madison Heights (-83.1052, 42.48587)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 20 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.44 gal
1.68 L · about $1.66
Round trip
$3.32
0.88 gal · 3.36 L
Estimated CO2
3.9 kg one way
Round trip: 7.8 kg / 17 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $1.66 $3.32
Mid-grade $4.25 $1.87 $3.74
Premium $4.65 $2.05 $4.10
Diesel $5.30 $2.33 $4.67

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 · Jun 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit and Madison Heights. The current time is 20:15:58.

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.