How far is Detroit, MI from Saugatuck, MI?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Saugatuck, MI is about 190.7 miles (306.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 162.4 miles (261.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 07m 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
190.73 mi
03h 33m
Flight
162.33 mi
261.25 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
162.33 mi
Kilometers
261.25 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
190.73 mi
Kilometers
306.95 km
Drive Time
03h 33m

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 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saugatuck
Thu, Apr 23, 6:09 AM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Thu, Apr 23, 9:43 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-04-23T02:36
Arrive Saugatuck
Thu, Apr 23, 6:09 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:34 AM to 11:34 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
9:52 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
Waverly
MI

City in Bremer County, Iowa, United States

From Detroit
95.2 mi
01h 46m
To Saugatuck
95.6 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
67°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    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

    54.8 mi · 59 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96 West: Grand Rapids

    44.5 mi · 48 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward M 6 West: Holland

    1.4 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Continue on Paul B. Henry Freeway

    18.3 mi · 20 min · Paul B. Henry Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 196 West: Holland

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight right onto Gerald R Ford Freeway

    22.7 mi · 24 min · Gerald R Ford Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward CR A2: Saugatuck, Douglas

    2282 ft · 60 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Blue Star Highway

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Blue Star Highway

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto Old Allegan Road

    659 ft · 18 sec · Old Allegan Road

  19. 19

    Continue on Allegan Street

    1871 ft · 51 sec · Allegan Street

  20. 20

    Turn slight right onto Lake Street

    77 m · 7 sec · Lake Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Culver Street

    113 m · 12 sec · Culver Street

  22. 22

    Turn right

    20 m · 6 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right

    8 m · 2 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Walter P Reuther Freeway
81 mi · 42%
I 96 West
44.5 mi · 23%
Gerald R Ford Freeway
22.7 mi · 12%
Paul B. Henry Freeway
18.3 mi · 10%
John C Lodge Freeway
17.8 mi · 9%
Blue Star Highway
2.3 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Walter P Reuther Freeway

Keep slight left

54.8 mi · 00h 59m

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 33m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.3 mi
162.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waverly
01h 46m from Detroit
Leave By
9:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Detroit and Mostly Sunny near Saugatuck.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 190.7 miles (306.9 km) and usually takes 03h 33m 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?

Waverly is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.2 miles from Detroit and 95.6 miles from Saugatuck.

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

The direct path is about 162.4 miles (261.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.3 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 9:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.38 one way or $50.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Detroit and Mostly Sunny near Saugatuck.

Stop Ideas Near Waverly

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

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

RAIL

East Lansing station

11 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road
BUS

Owosso, MI

47 mi away
109 Comstock Street
RAIL

Durand Union Station

55 mi away
200 South Railroad St.
RAIL

Albion station

56 mi away
300 North Eaton St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Saugatuck. Straight-line distance: 162.33 mi (261.25 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
Saugatuck

#2 Saugatuck

City in Allegan County in the U.

Population3,408
Coordinates42.6550200, -86.2019800
Altitude181
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Saugatuck (-86.20198, 42.65502)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 307 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.73 gal
25.48 L · about $25.38
Round trip
$50.76
13.46 gal · 50.96 L
Estimated CO2
59.8 kg one way
Round trip: 119.6 kg / 264 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.38 $50.76
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.62 $57.25
Premium $4.65 $31.32 $62.64
Diesel $5.30 $35.70 $71.39

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit and Saugatuck. The current time is 02:36:03.

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.