How far is Scottville, MI from Detroit, MI?

The driving distance from Scottville, MI to Detroit, MI is about 243.1 miles (391.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 197.9 miles (318.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
243.15 mi
03h 53m
Flight
197.88 mi
318.46 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Scottville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
197.88 mi
Kilometers
318.46 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
243.15 mi
Kilometers
391.32 km
Drive Time
03h 53m

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 03h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Detroit
Tue, May 5, 10:15 PM EDT
Return by in Scottville
Wed, May 6, 2:08 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Scottville
2026-05-05T18:21
Arrive Detroit
Tue, May 5, 10:15 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:54 AM to 11:54 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:12 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Scottville
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Saranac
MI

City in Ionia County, Michigan, United States of America

From Scottville
128 mi
01h 56m
To Detroit
115.1 mi
01h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Tuesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph NNW
Destination
64°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    15 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Street

    5.4 mi · 8 min · State Street

  3. 3

    Take the exit left toward US 31 South: Muskegon

    53.8 mi · 55 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight left

    6.3 mi · 7 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 96: Grand Rapids, Lansing

    1424 ft · 49 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    96.4 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96 East: Detroit

    66.9 mi · 1 hr 12 min

  8. 8

    Continue on Walter P Reuther Freeway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto John C Lodge Freeway

    17.8 mi · 23 min · John C Lodge Freeway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight left toward Larned Street, Downtown

    1773 ft · 45 sec

  11. 11

    Continue on West Larned Street

    1024 ft · 34 sec · West Larned Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Woodward Avenue

    868 ft · 42 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 Scottville and Detroit.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
14 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 96
96.6 mi · 40%
I 96 East
66.9 mi · 28%
US 31 South
60.1 mi · 25%
John C Lodge Freeway
17.8 mi · 7%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.93 mi · 4%
State Street
5.36 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 96

Merge slight left

96.4 mi · 01h 43m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+45.2 mi
197.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saranac
01h 56m from Scottville
Leave By
9:12 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Scottville and 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 Scottville to Detroit?

The road trip is about 243.1 miles (391.3 km) and usually takes 03h 53m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Saranac is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128 miles from Scottville and 115.1 miles from Detroit.

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

The direct path is about 197.9 miles (318.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.2 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:12 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.36 one way or $64.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Scottville and Showers And Thunderstorms near Detroit.

Stop Ideas Near Saranac

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

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

BUS

Rockford, Michigan

35 mi away
US 131 & 10 Mile Road NE
RAIL

Vernon J. Ehlers Station

38 mi away
431 Wealthy St. SW
BUS

Howard City, Michigan

56 mi away
130 North Ensley St.
RAIL

East Lansing station

63 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Scottville and Detroit. Straight-line distance: 197.88 mi (318.46 km).

Scottville

#1 Scottville

City in Mason County, Michigan, United States of America

Population1,209
Coordinates43.9547300, -86.2800800
Altitude209
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: (-86.280096, 43.95473)
End: Cadillac Square (-83.04575, 42.331399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 391 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.58 gal
32.48 L · about $32.36
Round trip
$64.71
17.16 gal · 64.96 L
Estimated CO2
76.3 kg one way
Round trip: 152.5 kg / 336 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.36 $64.71
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.49 $72.98
Premium $4.65 $39.93 $79.86
Diesel $5.30 $45.51 $91.02

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Scottville and Detroit. The current time is 18:21:26.

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.