How far is Ferndale, MI from Detroit, MI?

The driving distance from Ferndale, MI to Detroit, MI is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 10 miles (16.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
12.27 mi
00h 19m
Flight
10.01 mi
16.11 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ferndale.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
10.01 mi
Kilometers
16.11 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
12.27 mi
Kilometers
19.74 km
Drive Time
00h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Detroit
Wed, Apr 22, 7:48 PM EDT
Return by in Ferndale
Wed, Apr 22, 8:07 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ferndale
2026-04-22T19:29
Arrive Detroit
Wed, Apr 22, 7:48 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:19 AM to 7:19 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Ferndale
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Hamtramck
MI

City in Michigan

From Ferndale
6 mi
00h 09m
To Detroit
6.3 mi
00h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NNE
Destination
69°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West 9 Mile Road

    1.4 mi · 4 min · West 9 Mile Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Chrysler Drive

    2284 ft · 51 sec · South Chrysler Drive

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 75 South

    1075 ft · 26 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    2456 ft · 38 sec · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Lafayette Avenue

    1093 ft · 27 sec

  7. 7

    Turn slight right onto Macomb Street

    1196 ft · 40 sec · Macomb Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Beaubien Street

    636 ft · 23 sec · Beaubien Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East Lafayette Street

    674 ft · 21 sec · East Lafayette Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Bates Street

    909 ft · 26 sec · Bates Street

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Congress Street

    99 m · 17 sec · East Congress Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Woodward Avenue

    137 m · 19 sec · Woodward Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Cadillac Square

    39 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cadillac Square

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
14 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
113.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
8.34 mi · 68%
West 9 Mile Road
1.43 mi · 12%
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
0.47 mi · 4%
South Chrysler Drive
0.43 mi · 4%
Macomb Street
0.23 mi · 2%
Lafayette Avenue
0.21 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

Merge slight left onto South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

8.34 mi · 00h 10m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 19m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.2 mi
10 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hamtramck
00h 09m from Ferndale
Leave By
7:52 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ferndale and Sunny near Detroit.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km) and usually takes 00h 19m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hamtramck is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6 miles from Ferndale and 6.3 miles from Detroit.

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

The direct path is about 10 miles (16.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.2 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.62 one way or $3.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Hamtramck

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

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

RAIL

Detroit

3 mi away
11 West Baltimore Ave.
RAIL

Royal Oak station

13 mi away
202 South Sherman Ave.
RAIL

John D. Dingell Transit Center

15 mi away
16121 Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Greenfield Village, Michigan

19 mi away
20900 Oakwood Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ferndale and Detroit. Straight-line distance: 10.01 mi (16.11 km).

Ferndale

#1 Ferndale

Town in Humboldt County, California, United States

Population20,198
Coordinates42.4605900, -83.1346500
Altitude197
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: West 9 Mile Road (-83.13465, 42.460597)
End: Cadillac Square (-83.04575, 42.331399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 20 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.43 gal
1.64 L · about $1.62
Round trip
$3.24
0.86 gal · 3.28 L
Estimated CO2
3.8 kg one way
Round trip: 7.6 kg / 17 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $1.62 $3.24
Mid-grade $4.25 $1.83 $3.66
Premium $4.65 $2.00 $4.00
Diesel $5.30 $2.28 $4.56

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Ferndale and Detroit. The current time is 19:29:49.

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.