Getting Around Brighton, MI: A Guide to Local Transportation and Commuting

Brighton's location is one of those things buyers notice pretty quickly when evaluating the pros and cons of living in Brighton, MI. Homes here are selling in roughly 41 days, with a median sale price around $401,000 as of late 2026 - and a lot of that steady demand traces back to one simple fact: getting out of town is easy.

The city sits right where two major Michigan expressways cross, which means direct routes to Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Metro Detroit are all a short drive from almost any neighborhood.

Brighton sits directly at the junction of Interstate 96 and U.S. Route 23. I-96 runs east to west, connecting Metro Detroit to Lansing and Grand Rapids. US-23 runs north to south, carrying drivers from Ann Arbor up through Flint and Saginaw.

Because those two expressways cross directly in the Brighton area, most regional commutes amount to picking a direction and merging.

Driving from Detroit to Brighton covers about 45 miles. Depending on the route and time of day, figure on roughly 44 to 54 minutes via I-96 West. During morning and evening rush hours, you'll be at that higher end of the window - that's just the reality of it.

The closest commercial option is Bishop International Airport (FNT) in Flint - about 35.6 miles north, roughly a 49-minute drive up US-23. If you need a larger international hub, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is approximately 43 miles away and runs about 46 to 52 minutes by car.

Most residents here drive, full stop. That said, public transportation does exist. The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation - SMART - operates bus routes serving the local area, including connections that run toward Detroit and other surrounding Metro Detroit communities. Taking the bus from Detroit to Brighton requires local transfers and takes roughly two and a half hours total.

The standard full cash fare on the SMART network runs about $2 per ride, which applies to the regional routes connecting Brighton to the broader Detroit metro area. For current pass options and transfer rules, check the SMART website directly. Exact change or a pre-loaded transit card will make boarding faster.

A direct taxi or car service to the airport is considerably faster than the bus, though the price reflects that. Several operators serve the area: Livingston Taxi LLC, Premier Taxi & Limo Services, Brighton Airport Car Service, and Ann Arbor Taxi & Airport Car Service all work this market. Most offer door-to-door rides and 24/7 shuttle service directly to DTW and other regional airports.

Downtown Brighton has a well-preserved historic district built around Mill Pond Park - a genuine public gathering space that anchors the local commerce scene rather than just decorating it. The streets surrounding the park are lined with independent retail shops and dining establishments, and the whole arrangement is compact enough that you can park once and not think about your car again for a couple of hours.

That density around Mill Pond Park is worth mentioning because it's genuinely unusual for a county this highway-driven. The historic district's tight cluster of storefronts means residents can move from one establishment to the next on foot without doubling back to a parking lot. It's a different rhythm than the rest of Livingston County, and buyers who care about that kind of daily walkability tend to notice it.

The drive to Detroit covers roughly 45 miles and takes about 44 to 54 minutes via I-96. Ann Arbor is shorter - you head directly south on US-23. Either way, travel times will shift depending on rush hour traffic.

The homes closest to the historic district give you the most direct foot access. If you're near Mill Pond Park, you can walk to the independent retail shops and dining establishments in the center of town without getting back in your car.

Yes - the SMART transit system runs bus routes connecting the area toward Detroit. The standard full cash fare is about $2 per ride, and the full trip from Detroit takes roughly two and a half hours including transfers.

The junction of Interstate 96 and U.S. Route 23 sees the highest daily volume. Drivers heading toward Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint, and Ann Arbor all converge at that interchange, so that's where things slow down first.

Both expressways cross directly in the Brighton area, so highway access is fast from almost anywhere in town. Most drivers can reach an on-ramp within a few minutes.

You'll find parking near Mill Pond Park and the surrounding shops in the historic district. How easy it is depends on the time of day and whether there's something happening at the park - community gatherings there do fill up the nearby spaces.