The village is at the extreme eastern tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in Detour Township, at the turning point for the shipping channel connecting the St. Mary's River with Lake Huron and the Straits of Mackinac.

It was connected with the fur trade and over time it came to have a large Metis population.

Over time the Metis inhabitants were redefined as being French-Canadian.

The name was changed to Detour in 1856 when a new postmaster, Henry A. Williams, assumed office.

[4] M-134 runs through the village, connecting with I-75 43 miles (69 km) to the west and with M-129 25 miles (40 km) to the west, which runs north 37 miles (60 km) to Sault Ste.