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Trip from Dearborn, MI to Lyons, MI

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

2h 23m

Distance

123.2 mi

198 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 13m ★
6 AM
2h 23m
8 AM
2h 43m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 42m
8 PM
2h 17m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Wayne County, Michigan, USA

Dearborn, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lyons, MI, MI

Lyons, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

The drive from Dearborn, MI to Lyons, MI covers 123.2 miles and takes about 2h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 96, Southfield Freeway, Walter P Reuther Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 90.1 miles on I 96. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.26 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.

Midpoint

61.6 miles from Dearborn, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 123.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 23m highway drive covering 123.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 96 and Southfield Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 90.1 miles on I 96.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 90.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Southfield Freeway. 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 10/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 123.2 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: 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 14 key points

These 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
6
42.5 mi into trip | ~52m in | I 96

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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 Dearborn, MI to Lyons, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 10 North: Lansing along the way.

M 10 North: Lansing

11.5 mi in | ~18m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 90.1 mi 1h 36m
Southfield Freeway 8.5 mi 11m
Walter P Reuther Freeway 8.2 mi 8m
South Keefer Highway 7.2 mi 9m
John C Lodge Freeway 3.9 mi 4m
Ford Road 2 mi 3m
Schaefer Road 0.5 mi 1m
Libhart Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 90.1 mi, about 1h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Lyons, 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

18 mi · 19 min · I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96

55 mi · 58 min · I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 96

17 mi · 18 min · I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward Grand River Avenue, Portland Road
17

Turn right onto East Grand River Avenue

0.3 mi · 25 sec · East Grand River Avenue
18

Turn left onto South Keefer Highway

7.2 mi · 9 min · South Keefer Highway
19

Continue on Libhart Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Libhart Street
20

Continue on Bridge Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Bridge Street
21

Arrive at destination

East Bridge 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.6 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.1 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 27 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 61.6 miles or 1h 12m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lyons, 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 123.2 miles and 2h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Dearborn, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 90.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 61.6 mi from Dearborn, MI · 1h 12m into the drive

city and county seat of Livingston County, Michigan, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Howell, MI

62 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

Farmington, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Howell, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61.6 miles from Dearborn, 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 90.1 miles.

Arriving in Lyons, MI

The final approach into Lyons, 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 Lyons, 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

$19.26 one way

$38.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $21.15 $42.30
premium $4.89 $23.71 $47.42
diesel $5.61 $27.20 $54.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37 0 $12.94 $5.91
Efficient EV 30.8 0 $10.78 $4.93
EV Truck/SUV 49.3 0 $17.25 $7.88

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Dearborn, MI

Late night in Dearborn on Friday

Local time

12:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

WSW 10 to 14 mph 76% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:16PM CDT by NWS Marquette MI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:16PM CDT until April 23 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Marquette MI

Destination

Lyons, MI

Late night in Lyons on Friday

Local time

12:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°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

11 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

2h 23m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Lyons, MI covers 123.2 miles and takes about 2h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 96, Southfield 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 61.6 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 $19.26 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 demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 123.2 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.
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.
On the drive from Dearborn, MI to Lyons, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 10 North: Lansing along the way.

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Return Trip

Lyons, MI to Dearborn, MI

Plan the drive back the other way.

123.6 mi 2h 23m

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