How far is Sands, MI from Detroit, MI?
The driving distance from Sands, MI to Detroit, MI is about 458.9 miles (738.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 05m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 355.2 miles (571.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
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 07h 05m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Michigan, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Sands and Detroit.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sands and Detroit.
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1
Start on County Road NAP
156 m · 25 sec · County Road NAP
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2
Turn right onto Flodin Road
624 ft · 28 sec · Flodin Road
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3
Turn right
3.2 mi · 5 min
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4
Turn right onto County Road 480
3.4 mi · 5 min · County Road 480
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5
Turn left onto Cherry Creek Road
1.8 mi · 3 min · Cherry Creek Road
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6
Continue on M-28
35.8 mi · 42 min · M-28
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7
Continue on West Munising Avenue
2.2 mi · 5 min · West Munising Avenue
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8
Exit the roundabout onto Cedar Street
838 ft · 23 sec · Cedar Street
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9
Continue on M-28
35.1 mi · 42 min · M-28
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10
Turn sharp right
17.3 mi · 21 min
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11
At the end of the road, turn left
65.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
1819 ft · 44 sec
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13
Merge slight left
94.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
124.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min
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15
Keep slight left
11 mi · 12 min
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16
Keep slight left
63 mi · 1 hr 8 min
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
1.2 km · 1 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward Jefferson Avenue East
1185 ft · 29 sec
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19
Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive
41 m · 9 sec · Chrysler Drive
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20
Turn right onto East Congress Street
2674 ft · 2 min · East Congress Street
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21
Turn right onto Woodward Avenue
137 m · 19 sec · Woodward Avenue
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22
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
39 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Cadillac Square
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sands and Detroit.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 75
Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
124 mi · 02h 07m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Chance Rain Showers leaving Sands 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 Sands to Detroit?
The road trip is about 458.9 miles (738.6 km) and usually takes 07h 05m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Gaylord is a useful midpoint, sitting about 229.1 miles from Sands and 229.9 miles from Detroit.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 355.2 miles (571.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 103.7 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $61.09 one way or $122.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 144 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Sands and Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Detroit.
Stop Ideas Near Gaylord
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 Gaylord.
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Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sands and Detroit. Straight-line distance: 355.15 mi (571.56 km).
#1 Sands
Human settlement in Michigan, United States of America
| Population | 2,308 |
| Coordinates | 46.4207700, -87.4068100 |
| Altitude | 366 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Detroit
The twenty-fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Detroit metropolitan area.
| Population | 665,369 |
| Coordinates | 42.3314300, -83.0457500 |
| Altitude | 183 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cadillac Square (-83.04575, 42.331399)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 739 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 38m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 33m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 43m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $61.09 | $122.18 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $68.90 | $137.80 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $75.39 | $150.79 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $85.92 | $171.85 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.