How far is Detroit, MI from Pickford, MI?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Pickford, MI is about 333 miles (535.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 272.3 miles (438.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
332.97 mi
06h 02m
Flight
272.29 mi
438.21 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
272.29 mi
Kilometers
438.21 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
332.97 mi
Kilometers
535.87 km
Drive Time
06h 02m

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 06h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Pickford
Sun, May 31, 10:38 PM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Mon, Jun 1, 4:40 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-05-31T16:35
Arrive Pickford
Sun, May 31, 10:38 PM EDT
Route Timing
06h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:03 PM to 1:33 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Detroit
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
West Branch
MI

City Michigan

From Detroit
166.5 mi
03h 01m
To Pickford
166.5 mi
03h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SE
Destination
74°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    60 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw

    52.4 mi · 56 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    62.9 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    132.3 mi · 2 hr 16 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward M 134: De Tour Village, Drummond Island

    2484 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto North Huron Shore Drive

    3021 ft · 58 sec · North Huron Shore Drive

  13. 13

    Turn sharp right onto Mackinac Trail

    10.3 mi · 18 min · Mackinac Trail

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West M 48

    11.1 mi · 17 min · West M 48

  15. 15

    Turn right onto South M 129

    2 mi · 3 min · South M 129

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South M 129

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
16 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
248 mi · 74%
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
60 mi · 18%
West M 48
11.1 mi · 3%
Mackinac Trail
10.3 mi · 3%
South M 129
2.01 mi · 1%
North Huron Shore Drive
0.57 mi
Longest Stretch

I 75

Keep slight left

132 mi · 02h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 02m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.7 mi
272.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Branch
03h 01m from Detroit
Leave By
11:54 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Detroit and Sunny near Pickford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 333 miles (535.9 km) and usually takes 06h 02m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

West Branch is a useful midpoint, sitting about 166.5 miles from Detroit and 166.5 miles from Pickford.

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

The direct path is about 272.3 miles (438.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.7 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.31 one way or $88.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 104.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Detroit and Sunny near Pickford.

Stop Ideas Near West Branch

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

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

BUS

Tawas City, MI

56 mi away
1020 West Lake Street
BUS

Bay City, MI

80 mi away
1124 Washington Avenue
BUS

Manton, Michigan

92 mi away
Junction U.S. 131 & M-42
BUS

Cadillac, Michigan

93 mi away
1202 North Mitchell St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Pickford. Straight-line distance: 272.29 mi (438.21 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Pickford

Township of Michigan

Population1,553
Coordinates46.1578000, -84.3636500
Altitude184
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Pickford (-84.36365, 46.1578)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 536 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.75 gal
44.48 L · about $44.31
Round trip
$88.62
23.5 gal · 88.96 L
Estimated CO2
104.4 kg one way
Round trip: 208.8 kg / 460 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.31 $88.62
Mid-grade $4.25 $49.97 $99.95
Premium $4.65 $54.68 $109.37
Diesel $5.30 $62.32 $124.64

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit and Pickford. The current time is 16:35:47.

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.