How far is Waverly, MI from Detroit, MI?

The driving distance from Waverly, MI to Detroit, MI is about 94.9 miles (152.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 85 miles (136.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 03m 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
94.92 mi
01h 31m
Flight
84.99 mi
136.78 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waverly.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
84.99 mi
Kilometers
136.78 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
94.92 mi
Kilometers
152.76 km
Drive Time
01h 31m

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 01h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Detroit
Mon, May 4, 7:26 PM EDT
Return by in Waverly
Mon, May 4, 8:57 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waverly
2026-05-04T17:54
Arrive Detroit
Mon, May 4, 7:26 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:32 AM to 11:32 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:26 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waverly
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Brighton
MI

Suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States

From Waverly
47.2 mi
00h 45m
To Detroit
47.7 mi
00h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 17 mph SW
Destination
73°F
Monday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 17 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Dornet Drive

    108 m · 17 sec · Dornet Drive

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Elmwood Drive

    590 ft · 23 sec · Elmwood Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West Saginaw Highway

    1.6 km · 2 min · West Saginaw Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on West Saginaw Street

    4.7 mi · 10 min · West Saginaw Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto North Howard Avenue

    85 m · 8 sec · North Howard Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left toward US 127 South

    1070 ft · 26 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    4.1 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight left toward I 96 East: Detroit

    1.4 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    56.1 mi · 1 hr

  10. 10

    Continue on Walter P Reuther Freeway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto John C Lodge Freeway

    17.8 mi · 23 min · John C Lodge Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight left toward Larned Street, Downtown

    1773 ft · 45 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on West Larned Street

    1024 ft · 34 sec · West Larned Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Woodward Avenue

    868 ft · 42 sec · Woodward Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Cadillac Square

    39 m · 4 sec · Cadillac Square

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cadillac Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Waverly 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
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 96 East
57 mi · 60%
John C Lodge Freeway
17.8 mi · 19%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.93 mi · 9%
West Saginaw Street
4.69 mi · 5%
US 127 South
4.27 mi · 5%
West Saginaw Highway
0.98 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 96 East

Merge slight right

56.1 mi · 01h 00m

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
01h 31m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.9 mi
85 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brighton
00h 45m from Waverly
Leave By
3:26 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Waverly 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 Waverly to Detroit?

The road trip is about 94.9 miles (152.8 km) and usually takes 01h 31m 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?

Brighton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 47.2 miles from Waverly and 47.7 miles from Detroit.

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

The direct path is about 85 miles (136.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.9 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 3:26 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.63 one way or $25.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 29.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Waverly and Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Detroit.

Stop Ideas Near Brighton

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

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

RAIL

Ann Arbor station

27 mi away
325 Depot Street
RAIL

Pontiac Transportation Center

42 mi away
51000 Woodward Avenue
RAIL

Durand Union Station

45 mi away
200 South Railroad St.
RAIL

Troy Transit Center

48 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waverly and Detroit. Straight-line distance: 84.99 mi (136.78 km).

Waverly

#1 Waverly

City in Bremer County, Iowa, United States

Population2,537
Coordinates42.7392000, -84.6208100
Altitude262
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: Dornet Drive (-84.620775, 42.739201)
End: Cadillac Square (-83.04575, 42.331399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 153 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.35 gal
12.68 L · about $12.63
Round trip
$25.27
6.7 gal · 25.36 L
Estimated CO2
29.8 kg one way
Round trip: 59.5 kg / 131 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $12.63 $25.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $14.25 $28.50
Premium $4.65 $15.59 $31.18
Diesel $5.30 $17.77 $35.54

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

There is no time difference between Waverly and Detroit. The current time is 17:54:46.

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.