Fuel cost calculator · About 280 miles
Gas cost from Chicago to Detroit
The drive from Chicago, IL to Detroit, MI is about 280 miles, so a round trip costs about $81.55 in gas at this week's average of $4.37 a gallon. Change the car, fuel or distance below for your own figure.
What the trip costs by vehicle
| Vehicle | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car (33 mpg) | $37.07 | $74.13 |
| Midsize sedan (30 mpg) | $40.77 | $81.55 |
| Hybrid (50 mpg) | $24.46 | $48.93 |
| Minivan (22 mpg) | $55.60 | $111.20 |
| SUV (24 mpg) | $50.97 | $101.94 |
| Pickup truck (19 mpg) | $64.38 | $128.76 |
Regular gas at $4.369 a gallon, the average of this week's Illinois and Michigan prices, from the EIA’s weekly survey. Fuel only: tolls and parking are not included.
Fuel economy figures are round examples for each kind of vehicle, not official ratings. Your own car's EPA rating is on fueleconomy.gov.
Distance: fastest route between city centres, rounded to the nearest 5 miles, calculated with OSRM on OpenStreetMap road data (© OpenStreetMap contributors), measured November 2026.
280 miles in Illinois
$40.79
9.3 gallons at $4.37 a gallon
$2.03 more than the same trip at the national average.
- Per mile
- 14.6¢
- A full tank
- $65.55
- about 450 miles
- A year of driving
- $1,748
- $146 a month
Where to fill up
Regular is about $0.18 a gallon cheaper in Michigan than in Illinois this week, $2.74 on a 15-gallon fill. Fill the tank on the Michigan side of the trip. See how Michigan’s gas tax compares.
Chicago to Detroit by car
- How much does gas cost from Chicago to Detroit?
- About $40.77 one way, or $81.55 for the round trip, in a car that gets 30 mpg. That assumes 280 miles and this week's average regular price of $4.37 a gallon. An SUV at 24 mpg spends about $50.97 one way; a hybrid at 50 mpg about $24.46.
- How far is Chicago from Detroit by car?
- About 280 miles on the fastest route between the two city centres, measured on OpenStreetMap road data. Your own start and end points may make it a little longer or shorter; type your distance into the calculator for an exact figure.
- How many gallons of gas does the drive take?
- About 9.3 gallons one way at 30 mpg. That fits in a typical 15-gallon tank, so most cars can make it without stopping for fuel.
- Is gas cheaper in Illinois or Michigan?
- This week regular is about $0.18 a gallon cheaper in Michigan, which is $2.74 on a 15-gallon fill. About 18¢ of that gap is state fuel tax. Filling up before you leave Michigan saves the most.