How far is Royal Oak, MI from Inkster, MI?
The driving distance from Royal Oak, MI to Inkster, MI is about 21.6 miles (34.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 15.9 miles (25.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
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.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 37m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Charter township in Wayne County, Michigan
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Royal Oak and Inkster.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Royal Oak and Inkster.
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1
Start on the route
38 m · 11 sec
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2
Turn right onto West 11 Mile Road
53 m · 8 sec · West 11 Mile Road
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3
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.6 km · 3 min · South Main Street
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4
Turn right onto West 10 Mile Road
1448 ft · 37 sec · West 10 Mile Road
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5
Take the ramp straight toward I 696 West
1745 ft · 43 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Walter P Reuther Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward Greenfield Road
2022 ft · 54 sec
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8
Turn left onto Greenfield Road
1365 ft · 46 sec · Greenfield Road
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9
Turn right onto West 10 Mile Road
1.6 km · 2 min · West 10 Mile Road
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10
Turn left onto Southfield Road
1.2 km · 1 min · Southfield Road
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11
Continue on Southfield Freeway
10.1 mi · 14 min · Southfield Freeway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward US 12
890 ft · 19 sec
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13
Continue on Southfield Drive
116 m · 8 sec · Southfield Drive
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14
Turn slight right
1754 ft · 1 min
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15
Turn straight onto Michigan Avenue
4.7 mi · 10 min · Michigan Avenue
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16
Turn right
52 m · 15 sec
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17
Turn left
91 m · 26 sec
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18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Inkster Road
62 m · 6 sec · Inkster Road
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19
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Inkster Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Royal Oak and Inkster.
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.
Southfield Freeway
Continue on Southfield Freeway
10.1 mi · 00h 14m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Royal Oak and Sunny near Inkster.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Royal Oak to Inkster?
The road trip is about 21.6 miles (34.7 km) and usually takes 00h 37m 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?
Redford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.7 miles from Royal Oak and 10.7 miles from Inkster.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 15.9 miles (25.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.7 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 7:16 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 Royal Oak and Sunny near Inkster.
Stop Ideas Near Redford
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Redford.
Greenfield Village, Michigan
John D. Dingell Transit Center
Royal Oak station
Detroit
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Royal Oak and Inkster. Straight-line distance: 15.91 mi (25.61 km).
#1 Royal Oak
The most populous city in Oakland County, Michigan.
| Population | 58,963 |
| Coordinates | 42.4894800, -83.1446500 |
| Altitude | 202 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Inkster
City in Wayne County, Michigan, United States of America
| Population | 24,115 |
| Coordinates | 42.2942000, -83.3099300 |
| Altitude | 191 |
| Country | United States |
End: Inkster (-83.30993, 42.2942)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 35 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 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.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round 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 · Apr 11, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.