Cost to drive from Chicago to Detroit
Driving from Chicago to Detroit covers 281 miles (453 km) and takes about 5h 18min without stops. At Illinois's current fuel prices (week of 2026-08-31), the fuel for the trip costs about $41.45 in a typical petrol car — here's the full breakdown for petrol, diesel and electric.
Petrol, diesel or electric — priced for your car
Pick the kind of car you drive and whether you are coming back. Everything updates against Illinois's live prices.
Driving Chicago → Detroit in a family car, electric costs $34.02 less than diesel — 71% of the bill.
Chicago vs Detroit: which end is cheaper?
The two ends of this route are priced by different markets, so where you fill up changes what the drive costs.
What if fuel prices move?
Booking this drive for later in the year? Pump prices swing with crude, season and tax changes — here is the same 281 miles in a typical petrol car at four price levels.
Enter your fuel economy and see stops along the way.
How this cost is calculated
We take the real driving distance between Chicago and Detroit (281 miles) from OpenStreetMap routing, then multiply by a typical car's fuel use and Illinois's current average pump price. The petrol figure assumes 30 MPG · 7.8 L/100km; diesel and EV use 35 MPG · 6.7 L/100km and 3.5 mi/kWh. Your real cost depends on your car, traffic, driving style and the stations you pick — use the planner for your exact numbers, and check live prices on the Illinois fuel prices page.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drive from Chicago to Detroit?
The drive is 281 miles (453 km) and takes about 5h 18min without stops. Fuel costs roughly $41.45 in an average petrol car, $47.69 in a diesel, and $13.67 in an electric car, using Illinois's current fuel prices.
How far is it from Chicago to Detroit in miles and km?
About 281 miles or 453 kilometres by road — roughly 5h 18min of driving.
Is it cheaper to fill up in Chicago or Detroit?
Petrol is cheaper in Michigan ($4.23/gal) than in Illinois ($4.42/gal), so wait to fill up when you arrive.
How many times will I need to fill up between Chicago and Detroit?
None on the way. The drive needs about 9.4 gal of petrol and a typical 15 gal tank covers roughly 450 miles, so one full tank at the start does the whole trip.
Is it cheaper to drive or fly from Chicago to Detroit?
On fuel alone the drive costs about $41 one way, and that cost splits across everyone in the car — with $10 each for four people, which is where driving usually wins. Against that, the drive takes 5h 18min without stops, and a fair comparison also counts tolls, parking, wear and any overnight stay.
What will this trip cost if fuel prices change?
At today's Illinois average the fuel is about $41. A 10% rise takes it to $46, a 25% rise to $52, and a 10% fall to $37. Prices here update every week from official data, so this page always reflects the current figure.
How do I get the exact cost for my car?
Set the vehicle type on this page for an instant estimate, or open the FuelWide route planner, enter your car's own fuel economy, and it prices the trip on live data — including fuel and charging stops along the way.
Driving distance via OSRM / OpenStreetMap. Fuel prices are Illinois's current official averages; efficiency and electricity rate are typical estimates. Your figure will vary — use the planner for an exact result.