Trip from Beechwood, MI to Dearborn, MI

Drive Time

3h 23m

Distance

178.6 mi

287 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 12m ★

6 AM

3h 24m

8 AM

3h 48m

10 AM

3h 32m

12 PM

3h 30m

3 PM

3h 33m

5 PM

3h 47m

8 PM

3h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Dearborn, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

Traveling from Beechwood to Dearborn covers 178.6 miles across the Michigan Midwest, making for a straightforward drive that typically takes 3 hours and 23 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this trip works perfectly as a single-day excursion, saving you the hassle of booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $27 on fuel for the journey, keeping your travel budget relatively low. The route relies heavily on major infrastructure, ensuring a consistent pace throughout the drive. Whether you are heading east for business or a weekend getaway, this highway-focused path provides a reliable connection between these two Michigan locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

89.3 miles from Beechwood, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a high-speed experience, as 95 percent of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the majority of your time navigating I-96, the Paul B. Henry Freeway, and the Walter P. Reuther Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch lasts for 116.9 miles along I-96, which requires steady focus and endurance behind the wheel. Because this is a highway-focused drive, the character of the road remains consistent rather than technical. You should prepare for a utilitarian, interstate-heavy journey that prioritizes efficiency over varied terrain.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 96 is the longest continuous segment at about 116.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Paul B. Henry Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 178.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.6 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

16.7 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward M 6 East: Lansing

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 64 Toward M 6 East: Lansing

36 mi into trip | ~43m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I-96 East: Lansing

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I-96 East: Lansing

86.6 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in | I 96

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 East: Detroit

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 96 East: Detroit

166.6 mi into trip | ~3h 4m in

Take the exit toward M 39

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 14C Toward M 39

175.3 mi into trip | ~3h 17m in

Take the exit toward M 153

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 7 Toward M 153

Towns Along This Route

Between Beechwood, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 6 East: Lansing, M 5 East: Port Huron and M 39.

M 6 East: Lansing

16.7 mi in | ~22m

M 5 East: Port Huron

153.5 mi in | ~2h 49m | via I 696

M 39

166.6 mi in | ~3h 4m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 96	116.9 mi	2h 5m
Paul B. Henry Freeway	18.4 mi	19m
Walter P Reuther Freeway	8.9 mi	10m
Gerald R Ford Freeway	8.5 mi	9m
Southfield Freeway	8.2 mi	11m
I 196 BL	4.4 mi	6m
John C Lodge Freeway	4.1 mi	4m
East Lakewood Boulevard	2.6 mi	4m

Longest stretch: I 96 — 116.9 mi, about 2h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Beechwood, MI and Dearborn, MI.

Start on this road

214 ft · 17 sec · this road

At end of road, turn right onto Douglas Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · Douglas Avenue

Continue on Howard Avenue

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Howard Avenue

Continue on East Lakewood Boulevard

2.6 mi · 4 min · East Lakewood Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto 112th Avenue

505 ft · 14 sec · 112th Avenue

Turn left onto I 196 BL

4.1 mi · 5 min · I 196 BL

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp onto I 196 BL

0.3 mi · 41 sec · I 196 BL

Toward I 196 EAST: Grand Rapids

Merge onto I 196

8.5 mi · 9 min · Gerald R Ford Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 64 Toward M 6 East: Lansing Use the slight right lane.

Continue on M 6

18 mi · 19 min · Paul B. Henry Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 55 sec

Toward I-96 East: Lansing Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 96

50 mi · 53 min · I 96

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96

67 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 96

Toward I 96 East: Detroit Use the none lane.

Continue on I 696

8.9 mi · 10 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port Huron Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto M 10

4.1 mi · 4 min · John C Lodge Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 14C Toward M 39 Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto M 39

8.2 mi · 11 min · Southfield Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Exit 7 Toward M 153 Use the slight right lane.

Continue on South M 39 Service Drive

0.3 mi · 38 sec · South M 39 Service Drive

Turn slight right

0.2 mi · 36 sec

Toward Ford Road

Turn straight onto M 153

2.1 mi · 3 min · Ford Road

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto Schaefer Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Schaefer Road

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto US 12

79 ft · 1 sec · Michigan Avenue

Use the none lane.

Arrive at destination

US 12

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 3-hour and 23-minute transit, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the 178.6-mile trek. Departing early in the morning can help you avoid the heaviest traffic patterns near your destination in Dearborn. Since the route is almost entirely highway-based, keeping a steady pace is your best strategy for managing fuel consumption. Take advantage of the flexibility offered by this single-day trip by keeping your departure time fluid based on local traffic reports. Prioritize a single, well-timed rest stop midway through your journey to break up the long 116.9-mile stretch on I-96.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 89.3 miles from Beechwood, MI, or about 1h 41m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.9 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 89.3 miles or 1h 41m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dearborn, MI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Beechwood, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Beechwood, MI

This is one driving day of about 178.6 miles and 3h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Beechwood, MI.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 116.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 89.3 mi from Beechwood, MI · 1h 41m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chicago, IL

89 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

Chicago, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chicago, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.3 miles from Beechwood, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 96 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 116.9 miles.

Arriving in Dearborn, MI

The final approach into Dearborn, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Dearborn, MI.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.13 one way

$54.26 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$29.90	$59.81
premium	$4.80	$33.72	$67.43
diesel	$5.64	$39.68	$79.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	53.6	$18.75	$8.57
Efficient EV	44.7	$15.63	$7.14
EV Truck/SUV	71.4	$25.00	$11.43

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Beechwood, MI

Evening in Beechwood on Sunday

Local time

6:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dearborn, MI

Evening in Dearborn on Sunday

Local time

6:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

3 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

3h 23m 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 Beechwood, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 178.6 miles and takes about 3h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 96, Paul B. Henry Freeway, Walter P Reuther Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 89.3 miles from Beechwood, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.