Honestly, most people treat the drive Toronto to Detroit like a mindless slog through southwestern Ontario. They think it's just four hours of flat farmland, repetitive wind turbines near Chatham, and a generic border crossing at the end. They're wrong. If you just set the cruise control and zone out, you’re missing the weird, granular details that make this corridor one of the most economically and culturally significant stretches of pavement in North America.
It’s about 370 kilometers. Give or take.
Depending on how heavy your foot is and how much the OPP is patrolling the 401, you're looking at a four-hour commitment. But that’s a "perfect world" estimate. Anyone who has actually done the drive Toronto to Detroit knows that the 401 is a fickle beast. One tipped-over tractor-trailer near Milton and your four-hour trip is suddenly a six-hour odyssey.
The Psychology of the 401
The Highway 401 is technically one of the busiest highways in the world. It’s a concrete river. When you leave the GTA, you’re fighting for space with thousands of logistics trucks that keep the "Just-in-Time" manufacturing heart of the continent beating. It’s stressful. You’ve got the express lanes, the collectors, and then finally—freedom. Or so you think.
Once you pass Milton and the "Escarpment," the landscape flattens out. This is where most drivers make their first mistake: they stop paying attention. The stretch between London and Windsor is notorious for "highway hypnosis." It’s so straight and so flat that your brain starts to turn off. Don't let it. This area is prone to sudden, blinding "whiteout" snow squalls in the winter and intense lake-effect fog in the autumn.
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Why the Border Choice Changes Everything
When you finally hit the edge of Windsor, you have a choice. It’s the ultimate "choose your own adventure" moment for the drive Toronto to Detroit. Do you take the Ambassador Bridge or the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel?
The Ambassador Bridge is a titan. It carries something like 25% of all trade between the U.S. and Canada. It’s massive, old-school, and offers a killer view of the Detroit skyline as you descend into the States. But it’s also packed with those aforementioned semi-trucks. If you’re in a passenger car, the Tunnel is often the "insider" move. It’s the only international subaqueous (that’s a fancy word for underwater) border crossing for vehicles in the world. It dumps you right into the heart of downtown Detroit, right next to the Renaissance Center.
Check the "CBP Border Wait Times" app before you commit. Seriously. Five minutes of research can save you an hour of idling behind a truck hauling engine blocks.
The London Pit Stop Reality
Most people stop in London because it’s the halfway point. It makes sense. It’s got every fast-food chain known to man lining Wellington Road. But if you actually want to enjoy the drive Toronto to Detroit, skip the McDonald's. If you have an extra thirty minutes, head into the actual city of London. Go to the Western Fair District or grab a coffee in Wortley Village. It breaks the "highway trance" and makes the second half of the trip feel much shorter.
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Also, gas.
Never buy gas in Toronto if you can help it. Prices usually dip a few cents as you move west toward Woodstock. And obviously, if you have a Nexus card, the Windsor-Detroit border becomes a breeze. If you don't have one, and you do this drive more than twice a year, you're basically volunteering to suffer for no reason.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge Factor
We have to talk about the newcomer. As of 2026, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is the massive elephant in the room. This thing is a marvel of engineering—a cable-stayed bridge that finally links the 401 directly to I-75. For decades, drivers had to slog through Windsor city streets (Huron Church Road) with dozens of stoplights to get to the bridge. It was a nightmare.
The new bridge changes the math for the drive Toronto to Detroit. It’s designed specifically to peel the heavy truck traffic away from the residential areas. For you, the driver, it means a more seamless transition. No more "stop-and-go" for five kilometers while staring at duty-free signs.
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Hidden Gems Along the Way
If you aren't in a rush to get to a Red Wings game or a meeting at Ford HQ, there are spots that actually make this drive pleasant.
- The Oxford County Cheese Trail: Just off the highway near Ingersoll. You can get world-class brie and cheddar that puts grocery store blocks to shame.
- St. Jacobs Farmers' Market: It’s a slight detour north of Kitchener, but if you're driving on a Saturday, the apple fritters are legendary. Like, "change your life" legendary.
- Lake St. Clair: As you approach Windsor, you can skirt the coast. It’s beautiful, blue, and makes you forget you were just stuck behind a chemical tanker for fifty miles.
The Return Trip: What to Watch For
Coming back is different. The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) at the Windsor entrance can be stricter than the U.S. side. Know your limits. If you bought booze or tech in Michigan, have your receipts ready. Don't try to be "clever." They’ve seen every trick in the book, and getting flagged for a secondary inspection will add two hours to your drive Toronto to Detroit that you’ll never get back.
And watch your fuel. Michigan gas is often cheaper, but don't wait until your light is on to find a station in Detroit. Some areas near the bridge entrance are... let's just say "less than convenient" for a quick fuel-up. Fill up in Dearborn or downtown before you head for the crossing.
Actionable Advice for Your Next Trip
- Time your departure. If you leave Toronto at 4:00 PM on a Friday, you aren't arriving in Detroit in four hours. You'll be lucky to hit London by 7:00 PM. Leave at 10:00 AM or after 7:00 PM to avoid the "GTA Crawl."
- Download the Waze app. Not just for directions, but for the real-time police alerts. The OPP loves the stretch between Chatham and Windsor. They sit in the median where the grass gets high. You've been warned.
- Check the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel's Twitter/X feed. They post closures for maintenance often. There’s nothing worse than driving into a "Closed" sign and having to backtrack through city traffic to the bridge.
- Prepare your documents. Whether it’s a Passport, Enhanced Driver’s License, or Nexus, have it in the center console. Not in the trunk. Not in your suitcase.
- Stop in Woodstock for the "Big Apple" vibe. No, not that Big Apple on the way to Ottawa, but there are local orchards nearby that offer a great break from the monotony of the asphalt.
The drive Toronto to Detroit is a backbone of the Great Lakes region. It’s how families stay connected and how the auto industry survives. Respect the road, watch the weather, and for heaven's sake, take the Tunnel at least once just to say you drove under a river.