How far is Rochester Hills, MI from Chelsea, MI?

The driving distance from Rochester Hills, MI to Chelsea, MI is about 67.9 miles (109.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 50.3 miles (80.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 56m 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
67.83 mi
01h 28m
Flight
50.26 mi
80.89 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rochester Hills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
50.26 mi
Kilometers
80.89 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
67.83 mi
Kilometers
109.16 km
Drive Time
01h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chelsea
Thu, Apr 16, 3:15 AM EDT
Return by in Rochester Hills
Thu, Apr 16, 4:43 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rochester Hills
2026-04-16T01:46
Arrive Chelsea
Thu, Apr 16, 3:15 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:28 AM to 11:28 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rochester Hills
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
Plymouth
MI

City in Wayne County, in the U.

From Rochester Hills
33.9 mi
00h 44m
To Chelsea
34 mi
00h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph SW
Destination
72°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rochester Hills and Chelsea.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rochester Hills and Chelsea.

  1. 1

    Start on Dickson Lane

    1164 ft · 53 sec · Dickson Lane

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Downhill Lane

    115 m · 18 sec · Downhill Lane

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Dressler Lane

    60 m · 14 sec · Dressler Lane

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South Livernois Road

    1426 ft · 27 sec · South Livernois Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Hamlin Road

    5 m · 1 sec · West Hamlin Road

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto West Hamlin Road

    1 mi · 2 min · West Hamlin Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Crooks Road

    1860 ft · 38 sec · Crooks Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp right toward M 59 West: Pontiac

    2867 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    3 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South: Detroit

    1447 ft · 49 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 Business

    1 km · 42 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Continue on West Square Lake Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Square Lake Road

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto South Telegraph Road

    573 ft · 10 sec · South Telegraph Road

  16. 16

    Take the exit left

    42 m · 13 sec

  17. 17

    Turn sharp left onto South Telegraph Road

    7.7 mi · 12 min · South Telegraph Road

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 696 West, M 10 North: Lansing, Northwestern Highway

    777 ft · 19 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 696 West: Lansing

    1111 ft · 38 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Walter P Reuther Freeway

    6.8 mi · 7 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo

    2135 ft · 52 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96 East, I 275: Toledo

    1.3 km · 2 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo

    1875 ft · 23 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight right onto Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway

    5.8 mi · 6 min · Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward M 14: Ann Arbor

    1 km · 1 min

  26. 26

    Merge slight left

    16.5 mi · 18 min

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on M 14: Ann Arbor

    5.4 mi · 6 min

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago

    8.4 mi · 9 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward Jackson Road, Old US-12

    1704 ft · 59 sec

  30. 30

    Turn right onto East Old US Highway 12

    2.4 mi · 4 min · East Old US Highway 12

  31. 31

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · South Main Street

  32. 32

    Turn left

    52 m · 13 sec

  33. 33

    Keep slight left

    7 m · 2 sec

  34. 34

    Turn right

    31 m · 8 sec

  35. 35

    Turn slight left

    44 m · 11 sec

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rochester Hills and Chelsea.

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
36 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
17
7 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
53.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
M 14
22.5 mi · 33%
I 94 West
8.41 mi · 12%
South Telegraph Road
7.88 mi · 12%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
6.83 mi · 10%
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
5.79 mi · 9%
M 59 West
3.54 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

M 14

Merge slight left

16.5 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
01h 28m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.6 mi
50.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Plymouth
00h 44m from Rochester Hills
Leave By
3:34 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Rochester Hills and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Chelsea.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rochester Hills to Chelsea?

The road trip is about 67.9 miles (109.2 km) and usually takes 01h 28m 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?

Plymouth is a useful midpoint, sitting about 33.9 miles from Rochester Hills and 34 miles from Chelsea.

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

The direct path is about 50.3 miles (80.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.6 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 3:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.01 one way or $18.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 21.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Rochester Hills and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Chelsea.

Stop Ideas Near Plymouth

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

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

RAIL

Greenfield Village, Michigan

20 mi away
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
RAIL

John D. Dingell Transit Center

23 mi away
16121 Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Ann Arbor station

24 mi away
325 Depot Street
RAIL

Troy Transit Center

30 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rochester Hills and Chelsea. Straight-line distance: 50.26 mi (80.89 km).

Rochester Hills

#1 Rochester Hills

A city in Oakland County, Michigan.

Population74,111
Coordinates42.6583700, -83.1499300
Altitude251
CountryUnited States
Chelsea

#2 Chelsea

City in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States of America

Population5,377
Coordinates42.3180700, -84.0218100
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Start: Rochester Hills (-83.14993, 42.65837)
End: Chelsea (-84.02181, 42.31807)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 109 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.39 gal
9.06 L · about $9.01
Round trip
$18.03
4.78 gal · 18.12 L
Estimated CO2
21.2 kg one way
Round trip: 42.5 kg / 94 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.01 $18.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $10.16 $20.33
Premium $4.65 $11.12 $22.25
Diesel $5.30 $12.68 $25.35

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Rochester Hills and Chelsea. The current time is 01:46:47.

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.