Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 47–59°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Sunny53°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Sunny51°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Sunny47°F Kalamazoo10:15 AM EDT Sunny52°F I-94 northeast of Jackson11:30 AM EDT Sunny56°F Detroit12:30 PM EDT Sunny59°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–63°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Mostly sunny52°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny51°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Sunny49°F Kalamazoo10:15 AM EDT Mostly sunny54°F I-94 northeast of Jackson11:30 AM EDT Sunny59°F Detroit12:30 PM EDT Sunny63°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 51–58°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Sunny54°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Sunny53°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Sunny51°F Kalamazoo10:15 AM EDT Sunny51°F I-94 northeast of Jackson11:30 AM EDT Sunny54°F Detroit12:30 PM EDT Sunny58°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 44–57°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Sunny51°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Sunny49°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Sunny44°F Kalamazoo10:15 AM EDT Sunny48°F I-94 northeast of Jackson11:30 AM EDT Sunny52°F Detroit12:30 PM EDT Sunny57°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 51–61°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Mostly sunny54°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny54°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Mostly sunny51°F Kalamazoo10:15 AM EDT Mostly sunny54°F I-94 northeast of Jackson11:30 AM EDT Mostly sunny57°F Detroit12:30 PM EDT Mostly sunny61°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 53–64°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Mostly sunny56°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny57°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Mostly sunny53°F Kalamazoo10:15 AM EDT Partly sunny56°F I-94 northeast of Jackson11:30 AM EDT Partly sunny59°F Detroit12:30 PM EDT Mostly sunny64°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 52–64°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Mostly sunny56°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny56°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Sunny52°F Kalamazoo10:15 AM EDT Mostly sunny55°F I-94 northeast of Jackson11:30 AM EDT Mostly sunny59°F Detroit12:30 PM EDT Mostly sunny64°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Chicago (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Chicago, ILStart 594 ftelevation
- Illinois–Indiana lineState line · Mile 15 · 21 min 614 ftelevation
- Indiana–Michigan lineState line · Mile 66 · 1 h 11 min 702 ftelevation
- Kalamazoo, MIMile 144 · 2 h 21 min 786 ftelevation
- I-94 northeast of Jackson, MIMile 213 · 3 h 24 min 1,043 ftelevation
- Detroit, MIMile 282 · 4 h 29 min 599 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Chicago, Kalamazoo and Detroit.
| Month | Chicago 658 ft | Kalamazoo Kalamazoo Battle Creek station · 868 ft | Detroit Detroit Metro station · 631 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 32° / 19° | 3.6 | 32° / 18° | 32° / 19° | 4.3 |
| Feb | 36° / 22° | 3.1 | 35° / 20° | 35° / 21° | 3.6 |
| Mar | 47° / 31° | 1.5 | 46° / 27° | 46° / 29° | 1.9 |
| Apr | 59° / 40° | 0.4 | 59° / 38° | 59° / 39° | 0.5 |
| May | 71° / 51° | 0 | 70° / 49° | 70° / 50° | 0 |
| Jun | 80° / 61° | 0 | 80° / 58° | 80° / 60° | 0 |
| Jul | 85° / 66° | 0 | 83° / 62° | 84° / 64° | 0 |
| Aug | 83° / 65° | 0 | 81° / 60° | 81° / 63° | 0 |
| Sep | 76° / 57° | 0 | 74° / 53° | 74° / 56° | 0 |
| Oct | 63° / 45° | 0.1 | 61° / 42° | 62° / 44° | 0 |
| Nov | 48° / 34° | 0.5 | 48° / 33° | 49° / 34° | 0.6 |
| Dec | 37° / 24° | 2.2 | 37° / 24° | 37° / 25° | 2.7 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP (USW00094846, 658 ft); KALAMAZOO BATTLE CK INTL AP (USW00094815, 868 ft); DETROIT METRO AP (USW00094847, 631 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Illinois, Indiana and Michigan rather than repeat them.
- Illinois · IDOTGetting Around Illinois road conditions
- Indiana · INDOTINDOT 511
- Michigan · MDOTMDOT Mi Drive
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Chicago to Detroit with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Chicago to Detroit?
282 miles, about 4½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-90 and I-94. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
On I-94 northeast of Jackson, at 1,043 ft. It comes at mile 213, about 3 h 24 min of driving after you leave Chicago.
How cold is Detroit in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Detroit Metro (631 ft), averages a high of 32°F and a low of 19°F in January (1991–2020 normals).