detroit to Toronto or reverse: how is the drive?
 

And how long it takes including border control, from Detroit airport where AA has some lower fares specials to from DFW, etc.

You're looking at 350km (210 or so miles) from the border to Toronto airport, which is 3.5 hours at highway speed. Where you are going in Toronto after that will add time to the drive as will the time you arrive in Toronto and have to deal with traffic. DTW to the border is 20-30 minutes, and the border itself is a crap shoot, as is how long it takes to drive the 10 miles through Windsor to the highway.

Generally, I prefer to take I-94 north from DTW and cross the border at Port Huron/Sarnia because it's all highway and I hate the city drive in Windsor in the daytime. It may seem longer in looking at a map, but it's an hour to Port Huron and an hour to London, where you meet up with the 401, or it's 2 hours from Detroit to London on the 401.

I would think the fares really need to be nice to justify 9 or so hours of round trip driving.

BUF is much closer.

Its a pretty boring drive for the most part, but traffic on the 401 can be bad all the way to/from Milton depending on the time of day

Depending on what time of the day you're attempting this, you're looking at a 4.5-5.5 hour trek from DTW to YYZ. The big unknown is the border crossing wait. I-94 from DTW to the bridge or tunnel moves fairly well if not during rush hour. And the 401 from Windsor to/from YYZ moves fairly well also, again if not during rush hour.

I would not recommend doing the Port Huron route from DTW-it just doesn't make a lot of sense time wise. IF you were starting/ending out in the northern burbs of Detroit, then absolutely go that way.

The prob w/ BUF is the lack of options, and cost of airfare.

Don't forget your passport....

The DTW route has terrible traffic problems at rush hour and is a very long drive. BUF and ROC are closer and have similar fares for flights within the US and are much easier to get to. You should have a NEXUS pass for the border to assure that you don't get caught in customs delays. There is a NEXUS information thread on the AC forum.

It really depends on time of day and day of week. Crossing through Windsor/Detroit can suck during the day/middle of the week with rush hour on both sides. The Sarnia/Port Huron during the summers and over the weekend can be painfully slow with vacations and cottage country.

I'd count on about 4.5hrs... and just under 4 if you're travelling late at night/early morning. It's not a bad drive at all.

Disclaimer: Dated Mrs DHG when I was living in Detroit and would do the drive every other weekend. I usually found the best travel from Toronto was to leave around 3am and I was back in Ann Arbor by 7. ( AA is about 22 minutes past the airport -- usually cut through Sarnia as I found getting through Windsor to be slow).