Origin
Dearborn, MI
Night in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
9:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dearborn, MI to Detroit, MI
Drive Time
13m
Distance
8.5 mi
14 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 13m
★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dearborn, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Dearborn, MI to Detroit, MI covers 8.5 miles and takes about 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94 East, Detroit Industrial Expressway, Edsel Ford Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.29 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
4.2 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 13m drive with frequent turns across 8.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 East is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Dearborn, MI to Detroit, MI is easy. At 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dearborn, MI to Detroit, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Detroit Industrial Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Edsel Ford Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| M 10 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John C Lodge Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Larned Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Larned Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Woodward Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 94 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Detroit, MI.
1
Start on Michigan Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Michigan Avenue
2
Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East: Detroit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 94 East: Detroit
3
Merge slight left onto Detroit Industrial Expressway
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Detroit Industrial Expressway
4
Continue on Edsel Ford Freeway
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Edsel Ford Freeway
5
Take the exit slight right toward M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
M 10 South: Downtown, Detroit
6
Merge slight left onto John C Lodge Freeway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
7
Take the exit slight left toward Larned Street, Downtown
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Larned Street, Downtown
8
Continue on West Larned Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Larned Street
9
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
10
Turn right onto Cadillac Square
128 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cadillac Square
11
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 4.2 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 6m into the drive.
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 8.5 miles or 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.2 miles or 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Detroit, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dearborn, 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 Dearborn, MI
This is one driving day of about 8.5 miles and 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dearborn, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.2 mi from Dearborn, MI · 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
4 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 8.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4.2 miles from Dearborn, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Detroit, MI
The final approach into Detroit, 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 Detroit, MI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.29 one way
$2.58 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.42 | $2.85 |
| premium | $4.80 | $1.60 | $3.21 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $1.89 | $3.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.89 | $0.41 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.74 | $0.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.19 | $0.54 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% 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
Detroit, MI
Night in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
9:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
13m 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 Dearborn, MI to Detroit, MI covers 8.5 miles and takes about 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94 East, Detroit Industrial Expressway, Edsel Ford Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.2 miles from Dearborn, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.29 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.
The drive from Dearborn, MI to Detroit, MI is easy. At 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dearborn, MI to Detroit, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dearborn, MI to Detroit, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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