Origin
Auburn Hills, MI
Afternoon in Auburn Hills on Friday
Local time
12:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn Hills, MI to Dearborn, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
35.8 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn Hills, MI
fish socks
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Auburn Hills, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 35.8 miles and takes about 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Edsel Ford Freeway, North Opdyke Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.5 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 35.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 45m highway drive covering 35.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and Edsel Ford Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 25.5 miles on I 75.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Edsel Ford Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near University Drive.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 35.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (University Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 28.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
University Drive
Turn sharp left onto University Drive
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Detroit
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
8
28.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53B
Toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
8
28.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
8
34.7 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 210A
Toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Auburn Hills, MI to Dearborn, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
28.5 mi in
|
~33m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 25.5 mi | 27m |
| Edsel Ford Freeway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| North Opdyke Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Michigan Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Lapeer Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Shimmons Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| University Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 25.5 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn Hills, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on Shimmons Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Shimmons Road
2
Continue
280 ft
·
16 sec
3
Turn right onto I 75 BL
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Lapeer Road
4
Continue on I 75 BL
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
South Lapeer Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight left onto North Opdyke Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Opdyke Road
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Turn sharp left onto University Drive
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
University Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 75
26 mi
·
27 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 53B
Toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 94
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 210A
Toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 12
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Michigan Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Arrive at destination
US 12
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.9 mi from Auburn Hills, MI · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.9 miles from Auburn Hills, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dearborn, MI
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Dearborn, MI if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.60 one way
$11.19 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.15 | $12.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.89 | $13.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.90 | $15.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.76 | $1.72 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.13 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Dearborn, MI
Afternoon in Dearborn on Friday
Local time
12:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
45m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Auburn Hills, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 35.8 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Edsel Ford Freeway, North Opdyke Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.9 miles from Auburn Hills, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.60 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 35.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (University Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 28.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Auburn Hills, MI to Dearborn, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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