Distance between Chicago IL and Detroit MI

The distance from Chicago to Detroit is 280 miles by road including 264 miles on motorways. Road takes approximately 4 hours and 16 minutes and goes through Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Hammond, East Chicago, Gary, Lake Station and Portage.

There are tolls on the route.
Shortest distance by air 236 mi ✈️
Car route length 279.6 mi 🚗
Driving time 4 h 16 min
Fuel amount 9.5 gal
Fuel cost 36.4 USD
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City
Town
Village
Hamlet
Motorway
Primary
Secondary
Unclassified
Point Distance Time Fuel
Chicago 0 mi 0:00 00 min 0.0 gal
US 41 21 mi, 23 min
Hammond 21 mi 0:23 23 min 0.5 gal
I 90 10 mi, 09 min
Gary 30 mi 0:32 32 min 0.9 gal
I 90 6 mi, 05 min
Lake Station 37 mi 0:38 38 min 1.2 gal
I 90 4 mi, 03 min
Portage 40 mi 0:42 42 min 1.3 gal
I 94 101 mi, 1 h 29 min
Portage 142 mi 2:11 2 h 11 min 4.8 gal
I 94 3 mi, 02 min
Kalamazoo 145 mi 2:14 2 h 14 min 4.9 gal
I 94 11 mi, 09 min
Battle Creek 156 mi 2:23 2 h 23 min 5.0 gal
I 94 85 mi, 1 h 14 min
Ann Arbor 240 mi 3:38 3 h 38 min 8.1 gal
M 14 40 mi, 37 min
Detroit 281 mi 4:16 4 h 16 min 9.1 gal
City
Town
Village
Hamlet
Motorway
Primary
Secondary
Unclassified
Point Distance Time Fuel
Chicago 0 mi 0:00 00 min 0.0 gal
US 41 21 mi, 23 min
Hammond 21 mi 0:23 23 min 0.5 gal
I 90 10 mi, 09 min
Gary 30 mi 0:32 32 min 0.9 gal
I 90 6 mi, 05 min
Lake Station 37 mi 0:38 38 min 1.2 gal
I 90 4 mi, 03 min
Portage 40 mi 0:42 42 min 1.3 gal
I 94 18 mi, 16 min
Waterford 59 mi 0:58 58 min 1.9 gal
I 94 17 mi, 14 min
Hooks Corner 75 mi 1:12 1 h 12 min 2.5 gal
I 94 8 mi, 07 min
Bridgman 84 mi 1:20 1 h 20 min 2.8 gal
I 94 16 mi, 13 min
Benton Center 99 mi 1:33 1 h 33 min 3.3 gal
I 94 16 mi, 13 min
Watervliet 115 mi 1:47 1 h 47 min 3.6 gal
I 94 27 mi, 23 min
Portage 142 mi 2:11 2 h 11 min 4.8 gal
I 94 3 mi, 02 min
Kalamazoo 145 mi 2:13 2 h 13 min 4.9 gal
I 94 11 mi, 09 min
Battle Creek 156 mi 2:23 2 h 23 min 5.0 gal
I 94 18 mi, 15 min
Marshall 174 mi 2:39 2 h 39 min 5.7 gal
I 94 55 mi, 48 min
Lima Center 229 mi 3:27 3 h 27 min 7.7 gal
I 94 7 mi, 06 min
Scio Township 236 mi 3:34 3 h 34 min 8.0 gal
I 94 M 14 5 mi, 04 min
Ann Arbor 240 mi 3:38 3 h 38 min 8.1 gal
M 14 22 mi, 19 min
Livonia 263 mi 3:58 3 h 58 min 8.8 gal
I 96 4 mi, 03 min
Redford 267 mi 4:01 4 h 01 min 9.1 gal
I 96 14 mi, 14 min
Detroit 281 mi 4:16 4 h 16 min 9.1 gal

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to drive from Chicago to Detroit?

Fuel cost: 36.4 USD

This fuel cost is calculated as: (Route length 279.6 mi) / (Fuel consumption 29.4 mpg) * (Fuel price 3.82 USD / gal)

You can adjust fuel consumption and fuel price here.

How long is a car ride from Chicago to Detroit?

Driving time: 4 h 16 min

This time is calculated for driving at the maximum permitted speed, taking into account traffic rules restrictions.

  • 256 mi with a maximum speed 68 mph = 3 h 46 min
  • 1 mi with a maximum speed 65 mph = 1 min
  • 1 mi with a maximum speed 62 mph = 1 min
  • 1 mi with a maximum speed 55 mph = 1 min
  • 18 mi with a maximum speed 50 mph = 22 min
  • 2 mi with a maximum speed 45 mph = 2 min
  • 1 mi with a maximum speed 30 mph = 1 min

The calculated driving time does not take into account intermediate stops and traffic jams.

How far is Chicago to Detroit by land?

The distance between Chicago and Detroit is 279.6 mi by road including 264.1 mi on motorways.

Precise satellite coordinates of highways were used for this calculation. The start and finish points are the centers of Chicago and Detroit respectively.

How far is Chicago to Detroit by plane?

The shortest distance (air line, as the crow flies) between Chicago and Detroit is 236.1 mi.

This distance is calculated using the Haversine formula as a great-circle distance between two points on the surface of a sphere. The start and finish points are the centers of Chicago and Detroit respectively. Actual distance between airports may be different.

How many hours is Chicago from Detroit by plane?

Boeing 737 airliner needs 28 min to cover the distance of 236 mi at a cruising speed of 497 mph.

Small plane "Cessna 172" needs 1 h 43 min to flight this distance at average speed of 136 mph.

This time is approximate and do not take into account takeoff and landing times, airport location and other real world factors.

How long is a helicopter ride from Chicago to Detroit?

Fast helicopter "Eurocopter AS350" or "Hughes OH-6 Cayuse" need 1 h 35 min to cover the distance of 236 mi at a cruising speed of 149 mph.

Popular "Robinson R44" needs 1 h 48 min to flight this distance at average speed of 130 mph.

This time is approximate and do not take into account takeoff and landing times, aerodrome location and other real world factors.

What city is halfway between Chicago and Detroit?

The halfway point between Chicago and Detroit is Portage. It is located about 2 mi from the exact midpoint by road.

The distance from Portage to Chicago is 142 mi and driving will take about 2 h 11 min. The road between Portage and Detroit has length 138 mi and will take approximately 2 h 5 min.

The other cities located close to halfway point:

  • Kalamazoo is in 145 mi from Chicago and 135 mi from Detroit
  • Battle Creek is in 156 mi from Chicago and 124 mi from Detroit
  • Watervliet is in 115 mi from Chicago and 165 mi from Detroit

Where is Chicago in relation to Detroit?

Chicago is located 236 mi west of Detroit.

Chicago has geographic coordinates: latitude 41.87554, longitude -87.62442.

Detroit has geographic coordinates: latitude 42.34866, longitude -83.05675.

Which highway goes from Chicago to Detroit?

The route from Chicago to Detroit follows I 94.

Other minor sections pass along the road:

  • M 14: 21 mi
  • I 90: 20 mi
  • I 96: 18 mi
  • US 41: 14 mi
  • US 127: 3 mi
  • US 31: 3 mi
  • US 23: 2 mi
  • US 12: 2 mi
  • US 20: 2 mi
  • US 23 Business: 1 mi
The distance between Chicago and Detroit is ranked 4,442nd in the ranking popularity.
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