Origin
Dearborn, MI
Evening in Dearborn on Thursday
Local time
7:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dearborn, MI to Highland, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h
Distance
42.1 mi
68 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Highland, MI
Francesco Ungaro
Trip Overview
The drive from Dearborn, MI to Highland, MI covers 42.1 miles and takes about 1h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Southfield Freeway, I 96, Walter P Reuther Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.5 miles on Southfield Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 42.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h highway drive covering 42.1 miles, with most of the trip on Southfield Freeway and I 96. The longest continuous stretch is about 8.5 miles on Southfield Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southfield Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southfield Freeway and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Schaefer Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.1 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (M 39 / Southfield Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Schaefer Road
Turn left onto Schaefer Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
M 39 / Southfield Freeway
Merge onto M 39 / Southfield Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward M 10 North: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16
Toward M 10 North: Lansing
7
15.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward I 696 West: Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 18C
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
7
33 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Milford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 155B
Toward Milford
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dearborn, MI and Highland, MI, road signs point toward M 39 North, M 10 North: Lansing and Milford.
M 39 North
2.9 mi in
|
~6m
M 10 North: Lansing
11.5 mi in
|
~18m
Milford
33 mi in
|
~42m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southfield Freeway | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| I 96 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 8.2 mi | 8m |
| Milford Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| North Milford Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Ford Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Southfield Freeway
— 8.5 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Highland, MI.
1
Start on US 12
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
2
Turn left onto Schaefer Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Schaefer Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto M 153
521 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ford Road
4
Continue on M 153
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Ford Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right
0.4 mi
·
1 min
6
Turn straight onto North M 39 Service Drive
351 ft
·
7 sec
·
North M 39 Service Drive
7
Take the ramp
478 ft
·
11 sec
Toward M 39 North
8
Merge onto M 39
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 16
Toward M 10 North: Lansing
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto M 10
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 18C
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 696
8.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 96
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 155B
Toward Milford
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto Milford Road
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Milford Road
Use the right lane.
16
At end of road, turn right onto General Motors Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
General Motors Road
17
Turn left onto West Huron Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Huron Street
18
Continue on Peters Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Peters Road
19
At end of road, turn right onto West Commerce Street
434 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Commerce Street
20
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Highland Avenue
21
Turn left onto North Milford Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Milford Road
22
Turn right
173 ft
·
12 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21 mi from Dearborn, MI · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Dearborn, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Highland, MI
The final approach into Highland, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.58 one way
$13.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.23 | $14.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.10 | $16.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.30 | $18.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Highland, MI
Evening in Highland on Thursday
Local time
7:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
19 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
1h 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 Highland, MI covers 42.1 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southfield Freeway, I 96, 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 21 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 $6.58 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.1 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (M 39 / Southfield Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Dearborn, MI and Highland, MI, road signs point toward M 39 North, M 10 North: Lansing and Milford.
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