How far is Washington, MI from Detroit, MI?

The driving distance from Washington, MI to Detroit, MI is about 34.3 miles (55.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.2 miles (43.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
34.3 mi
00h 45m
Flight
27.16 mi
43.71 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Washington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
27.16 mi
Kilometers
43.71 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
34.3 mi
Kilometers
55.2 km
Drive Time
00h 45m

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 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Detroit
Sat, May 30, 1:33 PM EDT
Return by in Washington
Sat, May 30, 2:18 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Washington
2026-05-30T12:48
Arrive Detroit
Sat, May 30, 1:33 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:45 AM to 7:45 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:00 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Washington
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Center Line
MI

City in Michigan, United States

From Washington
17 mi
00h 22m
To Detroit
17.3 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
9 mph NE
Destination
70°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Road

    11 m · 3 sec · West Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Van Dyke Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Van Dyke Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 26 Mile Road

    57 m · 3 sec · 26 Mile Road

  4. 4

    Turn slight left

    107 m · 21 sec

  5. 5

    Turn left onto 26 Mile Road

    1928 ft · 35 sec · 26 Mile Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward M 53 South

    1927 ft · 48 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Christopher Columbus Freeway

    7.8 mi · 8 min · Christopher Columbus Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West

    1772 ft · 44 sec

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 18 1/2 Mile Road

    56 m · 8 sec · 18 1/2 Mile Road

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto 18 1/2 Mile Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 18 1/2 Mile Road

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Mound Road

    7.1 mi · 11 min · Mound Road

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Mound Road

    953 ft · 16 sec · Mound Road

  13. 13

    Take the ramp straight toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron

    1445 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West

    2073 ft · 51 sec · Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Walter P Reuther Freeway

    3.2 mi · 3 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint

    1011 ft · 25 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I-696 West to I-75 South

    2553 ft · 1 min · I-696 West to I-75 South

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    9.7 mi · 11 min · South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Jefferson Avenue East

    1185 ft · 29 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto Chrysler Drive

    41 m · 9 sec · Chrysler Drive

  22. 22

    Turn right onto East Congress Street

    2674 ft · 2 min · East Congress Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Woodward Avenue

    137 m · 19 sec · Woodward Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Cadillac Square

    39 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cadillac Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Washington and Detroit.

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
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
3 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
72.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
9.74 mi · 28%
Christopher Columbus Freeway
7.81 mi · 23%
Mound Road
7.26 mi · 21%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
3.15 mi · 9%
18 1/2 Mile Road
1.11 mi · 3%
Van Dyke Road
0.74 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

Merge slight left onto South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

9.74 mi · 00h 11m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
00h 45m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.1 mi
27.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Center Line
00h 22m from Washington
Leave By
7:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Washington and Sunny near Detroit.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Washington to Detroit?

The road trip is about 34.3 miles (55.2 km) and usually takes 00h 45m 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?

Center Line is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17 miles from Washington and 17.3 miles from Detroit.

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

The direct path is about 27.2 miles (43.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.1 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 7:00 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.56 one way or $9.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Washington and Sunny near Detroit.

Stop Ideas Near Center Line

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

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

RAIL

Royal Oak station

10 mi away
202 South Sherman Ave.
RAIL

Detroit

14 mi away
11 West Baltimore Ave.
RAIL

Birmingham, Michigan

15 mi away
449 South Eton St.
RAIL

Troy Transit Center

15 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Washington and Detroit. Straight-line distance: 27.16 mi (43.71 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Washington

Township in Macomb County, Michigan

Population28,846
Coordinates42.7244800, -83.0360400
Altitude214
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: West Road (-83.036041, 42.724511)
End: Cadillac Square (-83.04575, 42.331399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 55 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.21 gal
4.58 L · about $4.56
Round trip
$9.13
2.42 gal · 9.16 L
Estimated CO2
10.8 kg one way
Round trip: 21.5 kg / 47 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.56 $9.13
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.15 $10.29
Premium $4.65 $5.63 $11.26
Diesel $5.30 $6.42 $12.84

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Washington and Detroit. The current time is 12:48:12.

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.