Roadways of Farmington Hills, Michigan

Farmington Hills is a city in southeast Michigan located northwest of Detroit in Oakland County. With a population of over 82,000, Farmington Hills has an extensive network of roads and highways that connect it to the surrounding region. In this local guide, we’ll explore the major roadways, routes, and highways that enable transportation through and within Farmington Hills.

Major Interstates and Highways

Several major interstates and highways run through or near Farmington Hills, linking the city to Detroit and other destinations.

Interstate 696

I-696 is an east-west freeway that passes through the southern part of Farmington Hills. It provides a quick connection from Farmington Hills to Detroit in the east and cities like Novi and Lansing to the west. I-696 intersects with other key routes like I-96, I-275, and M-5 within Farmington Hills.

Interstate 96

I-96 is another freeway that runs through Farmington Hills in an east-west direction. It merges with I-696 just west of Farmington Hills and continues east through Detroit. I-96 offers speedy access from Farmington Hills to major employment hubs in Detroit like the New Center area.

Interstate 275

I-275 is a partial beltway around the metro Detroit area that passes through the southwest corner of Farmington Hills. It allows easy access from Farmington Hills to western Detroit suburbs like Livonia and Plymouth as well as the Ann Arbor area to the west via its connection with M-14.

M-5 (Grand River Avenue)

M-5, also known as Grand River Avenue, is a state highway that runs north-south through Farmington Hills. It serves as the primary retail and commercial corridor through the heart of the city. M-5 provides direct links from Farmington Hills to the downtown areas of cities like Farmington, Novi, and Brighton.

M-102 (8 Mile Road)

M-102, known locally as 8 Mile Road, forms the southern border of Farmington Hills and acts as the famous dividing line between Detroit and its northern suburbs. 8 Mile Road offers Farmington Hills residents easy access to many destinations in southern Oakland County and Detroit.

Major Surface Roads and Streets

In addition to the highway routes, several major surface roads serve Farmington Hills and provide north-south or east-west connections across the city.

Farmington Road

Farmington Road is a major north-south route that runs from downtown Farmington up through the eastern side of Farmington Hills. It intersects with several east-west roads and provides access to shopping districts and neighborhoods.

Drake Road

Drake Road is an important east-west route in the central part of Farmington Hills. It connects neighborhoods and parks stretching from Gill Road on the west side to Farmington Road on the east side.

12 Mile Road

12 Mile Road is a heavily travelled east-west road near the center of Farmington Hills. It provides quick cross-town access and links up commercial areas on the west side of town with the downtown district to the east.

14 Mile Road

14 Mile Road forms the northern Farmington Hills boundary and links neighborhoods and business districts along the northern tier of the city. It provides direct access to areas like West Bloomfield Township to the north.

Orchard Lake Road

Orchard Lake Road is a key north-south route extending from 8 Mile Road to just past 14 Mile Road in Farmington Hills. It links together residential subdivisions and connects with major east-west roads.

Middlebelt Road

Middlebelt Road is an important north-south thoroughfare running through the western part of Farmington Hills. It connects the city to Livonia and Westland to the south.

Halsted Road

Halsted Road diagonally crosses Farmington Hills from the southwest to the northeast. It provides access between Grand River Avenue and the northern part of the city.

13 Mile Road

13 Mile Road stretches across Farmington Hills just north of the city’s midsection. It links neighborhoods and parks and offers an alternate east-west route to 12 Mile Road.

Transit Systems

Several transit options from the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) serve Farmington Hills to provide public transportation options.

Local Bus Routes

SMART operates several local bus routes that run through Farmington Hills and connect to destinations like downtown Farmington, Novi, and Westland. Major roads served by local routes include Grand River, 8 Mile, Orchard Lake, and Middlebelt.

FAST Bus

SMART’s FAST bus service provides limited-stop connections between Farmington Hills and downtown Detroit. FAST routes use highways like I-96 and M-5 to offer quick trips to workplaces in Detroit.

Connector Bus

Connector buses offer direct service from Farmington Hills transit centers to points around metro Detroit. Connector routes link Farmington Hills to important hubs like the Westland Mall and Oakland Mall.

Dial-a-Ride

SMART’s Dial-a-Ride is an on-demand service for seniors and people with disabilities in Farmington Hills. It provides door-to-door transportation for medical appointments, shopping trips, and other needs.

Lake-to-Lake Transportation

Lake-to-Lake transportation is a service connecting Farmington and Farmington Hills to destinations like Brightmoor, Southfield, and Walled Lake. It primarily serves seniors and people with disabilities.

Walkability and Cycling

While driving tends to be the primary mode of transportation in Farmington Hills, the city also provides options for walking and cycling.

Sidewalks

Most major roads have sidewalks on at least one side to accommodate pedestrian travel. Sidewalks are especially prevalent along routes like Grand River, Orchard Lake, and Drake.

Trails and Pathways

Farmington Hills has an excellent system of multi-use trails and pathways ideal for walking, running, or cycling. Major trails include the Farmington Road Trail, Power Road Trail, and Gill Road Trail.

Bike Lanes

Select roads have dedicated bike lanes or wide shoulders to accommodate bicycling, including stretches of Grand River Avenue, Drake Road, and 14 Mile Road.

Traffic Calming

Some neighborhoods feature traffic calming measures like traffic circles, speed humps, and curb extensions to slow cars and provide a safer environment for walking or biking in residential areas.

Significant Landmarks and Destinations

As you travel through Farmington Hills, you’ll want to keep an eye out for these notable landmarks and destinations accessible from the city’s main roadways.

The Hawk Woods Nature Center

Located off Drake Road, the Hawk Woods Nature Center offers wildlife exhibits, hiking trails, and environmental education. Its entrance drive is accessible from 14 Mile Road.

Heritage Park

Found along Farmington Road north of 12 Mile Road, Heritage Park is home to historic buildings and popular festivals like the Founders Festival.

Riley Skate Park

Positioned near Grand River Avenue and Eight Mile Road, Riley Skate Park is a unique 16,000 square foot facility catering to skateboarders and inline skaters.

Golf Courses

Several public and private golf courses flank the major roads of Farmington Hills, including the Farmington Hills Golf Club near Drake and Halsted.

Costick Center

The Costick Center recreational complex near 11 Mile and Middlebelt contains an ice arena, senior center, classroom space, and outdoor facilities.

Longacre House

Once part of Historic Longacre House Gardens near 12 Mile and Farmington Road, the Longacre House now serves as a cultural center.

Shopping Centers

Major shopping destinations like Twelve Oaks Mall near I-96 and Novi Road or Farmington Plaza near Grand River Avenue and Orchard Lake Road are easily accessible from Farmington Hills roads.

So in summary, Farmington Hills enjoys excellent connectivity and transportation access through its network of highways, major roads, public transit, pedestrian infrastructure, and proximity to key landmarks. Whether you’re driving across town or walking to a neighborhood park, the city’s roadways get you where you need to go. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!