How far is Detroit, MI from Washington, MI?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Washington, MI is about 35.4 miles (57 km), with a travel time of about 00h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.2 miles (43.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 34m 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
35.44 mi
00h 47m
Flight
27.16 mi
43.71 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
27.16 mi
Kilometers
43.71 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
35.44 mi
Kilometers
57.04 km
Drive Time
00h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Washington
Sat, May 30, 2:44 PM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Sat, May 30, 3:32 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-05-30T13:57
Arrive Washington
Sat, May 30, 2:44 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:47 AM to 10:47 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:56 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
Clawson
MI

City in Oakland County in the U.

From Detroit
17.7 mi
00h 23m
To Washington
17.7 mi
00h 23m

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
70°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
9 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    16.4 mi · 18 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Rochester Road

    2292 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Rochester Road

    793 ft · 18 sec · Rochester Road

  10. 10

    Turn right onto East Big Beaver Road

    2 mi · 4 min · East Big Beaver Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Metropolitan Parkway

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Metropolitan Parkway

  12. 12

    Continue on Metropolitan Parkway

    714 ft · 23 sec · Metropolitan Parkway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Van Dyke Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Van Dyke Avenue

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on M 53 North: Imlay City

    8.5 mi · 9 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward 26 Mile Road West

    1164 ft · 30 sec

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward 26 Mile Road

    3 m · 1 sec · 26 Mile Road

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout onto 26 Mile Road

    1044 ft · 19 sec · 26 Mile Road

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward 26 Mile Road

    37 m · 5 sec · 26 Mile Road

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto 26 Mile Road

    1810 ft · 35 sec · 26 Mile Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Van Dyke Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Van Dyke Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto West Road

    11 m · 2 sec · West Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Road

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
1 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
62.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
16.4 mi · 46%
M 53 North
8.49 mi · 24%
Metropolitan Parkway
3.25 mi · 9%
Van Dyke Avenue
2.25 mi · 6%
East Big Beaver Road
2.04 mi · 6%
Van Dyke Road
0.74 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

Merge slight left onto Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

16.4 mi · 00h 18m

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
00h 47m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.2 mi
27.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clawson
00h 23m from Detroit
Leave By
4:56 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Detroit and Sunny near Washington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 35.4 miles (57 km) and usually takes 00h 47m 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?

Clawson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.7 miles from Detroit and 17.7 miles from Washington.

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

The direct path is about 27.2 miles (43.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.2 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 4:56 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.71 one way or $9.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Clawson

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

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

RAIL

Troy Transit Center

4 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive
RAIL

Birmingham, Michigan

4 mi away
449 South Eton St.
RAIL

Royal Oak station

5 mi away
202 South Sherman Ave.
RAIL

Pontiac Transportation Center

16 mi away
51000 Woodward Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Washington. Straight-line distance: 27.16 mi (43.71 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 Washington

Township in Macomb County, Michigan

Population28,846
Coordinates42.7244800, -83.0360400
Altitude214
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Washington (-83.03604, 42.72448)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 57 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.25 gal
4.73 L · about $4.71
Round trip
$9.43
2.5 gal · 9.46 L
Estimated CO2
11.1 kg one way
Round trip: 22.2 kg / 49 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.71 $9.43
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.32 $10.63
Premium $4.65 $5.82 $11.64
Diesel $5.30 $6.63 $13.26

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 Washington. The current time is 13:57:55.

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.