The journey from New York to Detroit was shortened from weeks to days with the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825. The opening of the canal led to a tidal wave of settlers arriving from New England as well as cutting the cost of shipping goods.
For more information, see Bill Loomis, “How one bad review delayed the settlement of Michigan”, Detroit News, June 3, 2012.
Note : Michigan Every Day and the September/October 2014 Michigan History magazine claim the Erie Canal opened on October 25, 1825!