Origin
Dearborn, MI
Late night in Dearborn on Friday
Local time
12:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dearborn, MI to Lawrence, MI
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
159.9 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 44m
★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 4m
5 PM
3h 16m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Lawrence, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Dearborn, MI to Lawrence, MI covers 159.9 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Detroit Industrial Expressway, Schaefer Road, 52nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 156.1 miles on Detroit Industrial Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.00 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.9 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 159.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 55m highway drive covering 159.9 miles, with most of the trip on Detroit Industrial Expressway and Schaefer Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 156.1 miles on Detroit Industrial Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Detroit Industrial Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 156.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Detroit Industrial Expressway and Schaefer Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Schaefer Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 159.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Schaefer Road
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
5
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
18.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
158.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Lawrence
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Industrial Expressway | 156.1 mi | 2h 47m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 52nd Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Paw Paw Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Saint Joseph Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Detroit Industrial Expressway
— 156.1 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Lawrence, MI.
1
Start on US 12
79 ft
·
8 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
2
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
5
Merge onto I 94
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
140 mi
·
2 hr 29 min
·
Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Toward Lawrence
8
Turn left onto 365
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
52nd Street
9
Continue on South Paw Paw Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Paw Paw Street
10
Turn left onto West Saint Joseph Street
42 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Saint Joseph Street
11
Arrive at destination
West Saint Joseph Street
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.9 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.1 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 35 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.9 miles or 1h 27m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrence, 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 159.9 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Dearborn, 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 Detroit Industrial Expressway for about 156.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.9 mi from Dearborn, MI · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.9 miles from Dearborn, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Detroit Industrial Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 156.1 miles.
Arriving in Lawrence, MI
The final approach into Lawrence, 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 Lawrence, 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
$25.00 one way
$50.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.45 | $54.89 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.77 | $61.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.30 | $70.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48 | 0 | $16.79 | $7.68 |
| Efficient EV | 40 | 0 | $13.99 | $6.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64 | 0 | $22.39 | $10.23 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Lawrence, MI
Late night in Lawrence on Friday
Local time
12:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
2h 55m 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 Lawrence, MI covers 159.9 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Detroit Industrial Expressway, Schaefer Road, 52nd Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.9 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 $25.00 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 159.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Dearborn, MI to Lawrence, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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