How far is Franklin, MI from Detroit, MI?

The driving distance from Franklin, MI to Detroit, MI is about 21.5 miles (34.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 18.7 miles (30.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 53m 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
21.53 mi
00h 26m
Flight
18.71 mi
30.11 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Franklin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
18.71 mi
Kilometers
30.11 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
21.53 mi
Kilometers
34.65 km
Drive Time
00h 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 00h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Detroit
Mon, May 4, 6:21 PM EDT
Return by in Franklin
Mon, May 4, 6:47 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Franklin
2026-05-04T17:54
Arrive Detroit
Mon, May 4, 6:21 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:27 AM to 7:27 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Franklin
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Oak Park
MI

City in Oakland County, Michigan, United States

From Franklin
11 mi
00h 13m
To Detroit
10.6 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 17 mph SW
Destination
73°F
Monday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 17 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Scenic Drive

    19 m · 5 sec · Scenic Drive

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Franklin Road

    2664 ft · 2 min · Franklin Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West 13 Mile Road

    1 mi · 2 min · West 13 Mile Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Telegraph Road

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Telegraph Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Telegraph Road

    1042 ft · 27 sec · Telegraph Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 696 East, M 10 South: Port Huron, Detroit

    1627 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto John C Lodge Freeway

    17.1 mi · 23 min · John C Lodge Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight left toward Larned Street, Downtown

    1773 ft · 45 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on West Larned Street

    1024 ft · 34 sec · West Larned Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Woodward Avenue

    868 ft · 42 sec · Woodward Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Cadillac Square

    39 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cadillac Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Franklin 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
12 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
55.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
John C Lodge Freeway
17.1 mi · 79%
Telegraph Road
2.37 mi · 11%
West 13 Mile Road
1 mi · 5%
Franklin Road
0.5 mi · 2%
Larned Street
0.34 mi · 2%
I 696 East
0.31 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

John C Lodge Freeway

Merge slight left onto John C Lodge Freeway

17.1 mi · 00h 23m

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 26m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.8 mi
18.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Oak Park
00h 13m from Franklin
Leave By
7:36 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Franklin and Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Detroit.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 21.5 miles (34.6 km) and usually takes 00h 26m 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?

Oak Park is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11 miles from Franklin and 10.6 miles from Detroit.

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

The direct path is about 18.7 miles (30.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.8 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 7:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.87 one way or $5.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Franklin and Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Detroit.

Stop Ideas Near Oak Park

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

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

RAIL

Royal Oak station

4 mi away
202 South Sherman Ave.
RAIL

Troy Transit Center

9 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive
RAIL

Birmingham, Michigan

10 mi away
449 South Eton St.
RAIL

Detroit

14 mi away
11 West Baltimore Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Franklin and Detroit. Straight-line distance: 18.71 mi (30.11 km).

Franklin

#1 Franklin

City in Michigan, USA

Population3,221
Coordinates42.5222600, -83.3060400
Altitude255
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: Scenic Highway (-83.306041, 42.522332)
End: Cadillac Square (-83.04575, 42.331399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 35 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.76 gal
2.88 L · about $2.87
Round trip
$5.73
1.52 gal · 5.76 L
Estimated CO2
6.8 kg one way
Round trip: 13.5 kg / 30 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $2.87 $5.73
Mid-grade $4.25 $3.23 $6.46
Premium $4.65 $3.54 $7.07
Diesel $5.30 $4.03 $8.06

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 04, 2026

There is no time difference between Franklin and Detroit. The current time is 17:54:45.

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.