How far is Detroit, MI from Union City, MI?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Union City, MI is about 120.5 miles (194 km), with a travel time of about 02h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 108.6 miles (174.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
120.53 mi
02h 26m
Flight
108.54 mi
174.68 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Detroit.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
108.54 mi
Kilometers
174.68 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
120.53 mi
Kilometers
193.97 km
Drive Time
02h 26m

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 02h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Union City
Sat, May 30, 5:54 PM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Sat, May 30, 8:20 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-05-30T15:27
Arrive Union City
Sat, May 30, 5:54 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:26 AM to 12:26 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Detroit
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Chelsea
MI

City in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States of America

From Detroit
60.1 mi
01h 13m
To Union City
60.4 mi
01h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 mph NE
Destination
74°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Detroit and Union City.

  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

    34.5 mi · 37 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward M 60, I 94 Business: Spring Arbor, Jackson

    40 mi · 55 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Broadway Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · North Broadway Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Ellen Street

    96 m · 14 sec · Ellen Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Ellen Street

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
M 60
40 mi · 33%
I 94 West
34.5 mi · 29%
Jeffries Freeway (Express)
32 mi · 27%
M 14
5.36 mi · 4%
Jeffries Freeway
4.81 mi · 4%
I 75 South
1.22 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

M 60

Take the exit slight right toward M 60, I 94 Business: Spring Arbor, Jackson

40 mi · 00h 55m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 26m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.9 mi
108.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chelsea
01h 13m from Detroit
Leave By
1:38 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Detroit and Sunny near Union City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Detroit to Union City?

The road trip is about 120.5 miles (194 km) and usually takes 02h 26m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Chelsea is a useful midpoint, sitting about 60.1 miles from Detroit and 60.4 miles from Union City.

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

The direct path is about 108.6 miles (174.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:38 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.03 one way or $32.05 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 37.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Detroit and Sunny near Union City.

Stop Ideas Near Chelsea

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

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

RAIL

Ann Arbor station

23 mi away
325 Depot Street
RAIL

Jackson station

32 mi away
501 E. Michigan Ave.
RAIL

East Lansing station

59 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road
RAIL

Albion station

61 mi away
300 North Eaton St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Union City. Straight-line distance: 108.54 mi (174.68 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
Union City

#2 Union City

Village in Michigan, United States

Population1,564
Coordinates42.0667100, -85.1360900
Altitude276
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Union City (-85.13609, 42.06671)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 194 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.25 gal
16.1 L · about $16.03
Round trip
$32.05
8.5 gal · 32.2 L
Estimated CO2
37.8 kg one way
Round trip: 75.5 kg / 166 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.03 $32.05
Mid-grade $4.25 $18.08 $36.15
Premium $4.65 $19.78 $39.56
Diesel $5.30 $22.54 $45.08

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit and Union City. The current time is 15:27:50.

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.