How far is South Haven, MI from Detroit, MI?

The driving distance from South Haven, MI to Detroit, MI is about 180.7 miles (290.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 164.8 miles (265.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 57m 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
180.69 mi
02h 58m
Flight
164.84 mi
265.29 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Haven.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
164.84 mi
Kilometers
265.29 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
180.69 mi
Kilometers
290.8 km
Drive Time
02h 58m

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 02h 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Detroit
Sun, May 31, 12:07 PM EDT
Return by in South Haven
Sun, May 31, 3:05 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Haven
2026-05-31T09:08
Arrive Detroit
Sun, May 31, 12:07 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:59 AM to 12:59 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:32 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in South Haven
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Albion
MI

City in Calhoun County, Michigan

From South Haven
92.1 mi
01h 29m
To Detroit
88.6 mi
01h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
South Haven Weather
MI
Live fallback forecast
78°F
Sunday
Using Covert as the closest live forecast in the Van Buren County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph ESE
Destination
74°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Haven and Detroit.

  1. 1

    Start on Phoenix Street

    705 ft · 35 sec · Phoenix Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Broadway Street

    1999 ft · 49 sec · Broadway Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Phillips Street

    700 ft · 17 sec · Phillips Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Phillips Street

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Phillips Street

  5. 5

    Continue on South Bailey Avenue

    1393 ft · 34 sec · South Bailey Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on M-43

    1.4 mi · 2 min · M-43

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward M-43

    52 m · 3 sec · M-43

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto M-43

    8.9 mi · 13 min · M-43

  9. 9

    Continue on State Highway 43

    1.5 mi · 2 min · State Highway 43

  10. 10

    Turn right onto County Road 215

    5.8 mi · 8 min · County Road 215

  11. 11

    Continue on Bangor Road

    3071 ft · 1 min · Bangor Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North Paw Paw Street

    1944 ft · 1 min · North Paw Paw Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East Saint Joseph Street

    2995 ft · 1 min · East Saint Joseph Street

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Red Arrow Highway

    4 mi · 6 min · Red Arrow Highway

  15. 15

    Turn right onto County Road 671

    1.1 km · 58 sec · County Road 671

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto 43rd Street

    88 m · 5 sec · 43rd Street

  17. 17

    Continue on M-51

    117 m · 6 sec · M-51

  18. 18

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 94 East: Detroit

    1298 ft · 32 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    114.4 mi · 2 hr 3 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on M 14: Plymouth

    4.7 mi · 5 min

  21. 21

    Keep right to continue on M 14 East, US 23 South: Plymouth

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on M 14 East: Plymouth, Livonia

    15.1 mi · 16 min

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    9.2 mi · 10 min

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on Jeffries Freeway (Express)

    10.6 mi · 12 min · Jeffries Freeway (Express)

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight left toward I 75 North, M 10: Flint, Downtown

    1932 ft · 47 sec

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Flint

    1846 ft · 38 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight right onto Fisher Freeway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Fisher Freeway

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand River Avenue

    987 ft · 29 sec

  29. 29

    Continue on Fisher Drive West

    135 m · 17 sec · Fisher Drive West

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Grand River Avenue

    2731 ft · 2 min · Grand River Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Griswold Street

    834 ft · 30 sec · Griswold Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Michigan Avenue

    104 m · 16 sec · Michigan Avenue

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Woodward Avenue

    55 m · 7 sec · Woodward Avenue

  34. 34

    Continue on Woodward Avenue

    38 m · 9 sec · Woodward Avenue

  35. 35

    Continue on Woodward Avenue

    70 m · 14 sec · Woodward Avenue

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Cadillac Square

    39 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cadillac Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between South Haven 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
37 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 East
115 mi · 63%
M 14 East
26.7 mi · 15%
Jeffries Freeway (Express)
10.6 mi · 6%
M-43
10.4 mi · 6%
County Road 215
5.82 mi · 3%
M 14
4.69 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 94 East

Merge slight left

114 mi · 02h 03m

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
02h 58m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.9 mi
164.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Albion
01h 29m from South Haven
Leave By
12:32 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving South Haven and Sunny near Detroit.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from South Haven to Detroit?

The road trip is about 180.7 miles (290.8 km) and usually takes 02h 58m 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?

Albion is a useful midpoint, sitting about 92.1 miles from South Haven and 88.6 miles from Detroit.

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

The direct path is about 164.8 miles (265.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.9 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 12:32 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.06 one way or $48.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around South Haven and Sunny near Detroit.

Stop Ideas Near Albion

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

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

RAIL

Albion station

1 mi away
300 North Eaton St.
RAIL

Jackson station

29 mi away
501 E. Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Battle Creek Transportation Center

37 mi away
104 Capital Ave. S.W.
RAIL

East Lansing station

57 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Haven and Detroit. Straight-line distance: 164.84 mi (265.29 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 South Haven

Township in Van Buren County, Michigan

Population4,325
Coordinates42.4030900, -86.2736400
Altitude187
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: Phoenix Street (-86.273641, 42.403188)
End: Cadillac Square (-83.04575, 42.331399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 291 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.38 gal
24.14 L · about $24.06
Round trip
$48.12
12.76 gal · 48.28 L
Estimated CO2
56.7 kg one way
Round trip: 113.4 kg / 250 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.06 $48.12
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.13 $54.27
Premium $4.65 $29.69 $59.39
Diesel $5.30 $33.84 $67.68

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 31, 2026

There is no time difference between South Haven and Detroit. The current time is 09:08:14.

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.