How far is Detroit, MI from South Haven, MI?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to South Haven, MI is about 185.9 miles (299.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 164.8 miles (265.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 08m 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
185.89 mi
03h 34m
Flight
164.84 mi
265.29 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
164.84 mi
Kilometers
265.29 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
185.89 mi
Kilometers
299.16 km
Drive Time
03h 34m

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 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Haven
Sun, May 31, 2:01 PM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Sun, May 31, 5:35 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-05-31T10:27
Arrive South Haven
Sun, May 31, 2:01 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 34m
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
Albion
MI

City in Calhoun County, Michigan

From Detroit
92.8 mi
01h 47m
To South Haven
93.1 mi
01h 47m

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
South Haven Weather
MI
Live fallback forecast
78°F
Sunday
Using Covert as the closest live forecast in the Van Buren County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Detroit and South Haven.

  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

    1.5 km · 2 min · South Paw Paw Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Bangor Road

    3071 ft · 1 min · Bangor Road

  19. 19

    Continue on County Road 215

    5.8 mi · 8 min · County Road 215

  20. 20

    Turn left onto State Highway 43

    1.5 mi · 2 min · State Highway 43

  21. 21

    Continue on East Monroe Street

    8.9 mi · 13 min · East Monroe Street

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward M-43

    51 m · 3 sec · M-43

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto M-43

    1.4 mi · 2 min · M-43

  24. 24

    Continue on South Bailey Avenue

    1393 ft · 34 sec · South Bailey Avenue

  25. 25

    Continue on Phillips Street

    2622 ft · 1 min · Phillips Street

  26. 26

    Continue on Broadway Street

    1999 ft · 56 sec · Broadway Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Phoenix Street

    701 ft · 31 sec · Phoenix Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Phoenix Street

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 West
119 mi · 64%
Jeffries Freeway (Express)
32 mi · 17%
East Monroe Street
8.93 mi · 5%
County Road 215
5.82 mi · 3%
M 14
5.36 mi · 3%
Jeffries Freeway
4.81 mi · 3%
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 34m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.1 mi
164.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Albion
01h 47m from Detroit
Leave By
9:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Detroit and Sunny near South Haven.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Detroit to South Haven?

The road trip is about 185.9 miles (299.2 km) and usually takes 03h 34m 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?

Albion is a useful midpoint, sitting about 92.8 miles from Detroit and 93.1 miles from South Haven.

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

The direct path is about 164.8 miles (265.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.1 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 9:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.74 one way or $49.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Detroit and Sunny near South Haven.

Stop Ideas Near Albion

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

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

RAIL

Albion station

1 mi away
300 North Eaton St.
RAIL

Jackson station

29 mi away
501 E. Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Battle Creek Transportation Center

37 mi away
104 Capital Ave. S.W.
RAIL

East Lansing station

57 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and South Haven. Straight-line distance: 164.84 mi (265.29 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 South Haven

Township in Van Buren County, Michigan

Population4,325
Coordinates42.4030900, -86.2736400
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: South Haven (-86.27364, 42.40309)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 299 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.56 gal
24.83 L · about $24.74
Round trip
$49.48
13.12 gal · 49.66 L
Estimated CO2
58.3 kg one way
Round trip: 116.6 kg / 257 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.74 $49.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.90 $55.80
Premium $4.65 $30.53 $61.06
Diesel $5.30 $34.79 $69.59

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 South Haven. The current time is 10:27:17.

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.