LOL, I don't know where your "to and from" were to make it a "bit longer" but your right it may be God's country?? It has to be better than sitting in traffic around Chicago in any event. LOL
Minneapolis => Detroit
A heavy route. By the time you mess with local traffic on both ends, F around with Northwest Airlines, you can drive there (white knuckles in the snow) in less time. I hate to promote the upper peninsula as a shortcut, but think of it as a blessing.
If one has has ever been stuck in that I-94 truck corridor traffic, you wonder where bliss is.