How far is Ellington, MI from Detroit, MI?

The driving distance from Ellington, MI to Detroit, MI is about 97.2 miles (156.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 85.6 miles (137.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 51m 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
97.18 mi
01h 55m
Flight
85.61 mi
137.77 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ellington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
85.61 mi
Kilometers
137.77 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
97.18 mi
Kilometers
156.4 km
Drive Time
01h 55m

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 01h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Detroit
Thu, Apr 23, 8:56 AM EDT
Return by in Ellington
Thu, Apr 23, 10:51 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ellington
2026-04-23T07:00
Arrive Detroit
Thu, Apr 23, 8:56 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 AM EDT

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

Leave by
2:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ellington
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
Metamora
MI

Township in Lapeer County, Michigan

From Ellington
48.2 mi
00h 57m
To Detroit
49 mi
00h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SSE
Destination
73°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Caro Road

    5.3 mi · 8 min · East Caro Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Ellington Street

    2434 ft · 41 sec · Ellington Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Mertz Road

    9.7 mi · 14 min · Mertz Road

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto West Ohmer Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · West Ohmer Road

  5. 5

    Continue on East Main Street

    775 ft · 13 sec · East Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Mayville Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Mayville Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Ohmer Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Ohmer Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Lapeer Road

    18 mi · 27 min · Lapeer Road

  9. 9

    Continue on North Main Street

    2.1 mi · 4 min · North Main Street

  10. 10

    Continue on South Lapeer Road

    14.9 mi · 21 min · South Lapeer Road

  11. 11

    Continue on North Washington Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · North Washington Street

  12. 12

    Continue on South Lapeer Road

    9.7 mi · 16 min · South Lapeer Road

  13. 13

    Turn slight left onto North Opdyke Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · North Opdyke Road

  14. 14

    Turn sharp left onto University Drive

    889 ft · 23 sec · University Drive

  15. 15

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 75 South: Detroit

    1443 ft · 20 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    27.6 mi · 30 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Jefferson Avenue East

    1185 ft · 29 sec

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive

    41 m · 9 sec · Chrysler Drive

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East Congress Street

    2674 ft · 2 min · East Congress Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Woodward Avenue

    137 m · 19 sec · Woodward Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Cadillac Square

    39 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cadillac Square

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
23 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
27.9 mi · 29%
South Lapeer Road
24.6 mi · 25%
Lapeer Road
18 mi · 19%
Mertz Road
9.74 mi · 10%
East Caro Road
5.28 mi · 5%
West Ohmer Road
2.11 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 75 South

Merge slight left

27.6 mi · 00h 30m

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
01h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.6 mi
85.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Metamora
00h 57m from Ellington
Leave By
2:38 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Ellington and Mostly Sunny near Detroit.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 97.2 miles (156.4 km) and usually takes 01h 55m 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?

Metamora is a useful midpoint, sitting about 48.2 miles from Ellington and 49 miles from Detroit.

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

The direct path is about 85.6 miles (137.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.6 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 2:38 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.93 one way or $25.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Metamora

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

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

RAIL

Lapeer station

12 mi away
73 Howard St.
RAIL

Flint station

31 mi away
1407 South Dort Highway
RAIL

Pontiac Transportation Center

34 mi away
51000 Woodward Avenue
RAIL

Troy Transit Center

45 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ellington and Detroit. Straight-line distance: 85.61 mi (137.77 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Ellington

Township in Tuscola County, Michigan

Population1,261
Coordinates43.5539100, -83.3213400
Altitude239
CountryUnited States
Detroit

#2 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
Start: East Caro Road (-83.321394, 43.553945)
End: Cadillac Square (-83.04575, 42.331399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 156 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.43 gal
12.98 L · about $12.93
Round trip
$25.87
6.86 gal · 25.96 L
Estimated CO2
30.5 kg one way
Round trip: 61 kg / 134 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $12.93 $25.87
Mid-grade $4.25 $14.59 $29.18
Premium $4.65 $15.96 $31.93
Diesel $5.30 $18.19 $36.39

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 Ellington and Detroit. The current time is 07:00:34.

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.