The drive from Dearborn, MI to Ada, MI covers 145.9 miles and takes about 2h 48m 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 111.1 miles on I 96.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.81 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
72.9 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 145.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 48m highway drive covering 145.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 96 and Southfield Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 111.1 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 25 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 111.1 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 Effort10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 145.9 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 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 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.
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.
7
135.7 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward M 50: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward M 50: Lowell
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 Ada, MI, road signs point toward M 10 North: Lansing and M 50: Lowell.
M 10 North: Lansing
11.5 mi in|~18m
M 50: Lowell
135.7 mi in|~2h 32m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
111.1 mi
1h 59m
Southfield Freeway
8.5 mi
11m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.2 mi
8m
John C Lodge Freeway
3.9 mi
4m
Grand River Drive Southeast
3 mi
4m
Cascade Road Southeast
3 mi
4m
Snow Avenue Southeast
2.4 mi
3m
Ford Road
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 111.1 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Ada, 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 16Toward M 10 North: LansingUse 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 18CToward I 696 West: LansingUse 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
38 mi·41 min·I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 52Toward M 50: LowellUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto Alden Nash Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi·41 sec·Alden Nash Avenue Southeast
18
Turn left onto Cascade Road Southeast
3.0 mi·4 min·Cascade Road Southeast
19
Turn right onto Snow Avenue Southeast
2.4 mi·3 min·Snow Avenue Southeast
20
At end of road, turn left onto Grand River Drive Southeast
3.0 mi·4 min·Grand River Drive Southeast
21
At end of road, turn right onto Buttrick Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi·46 sec·Buttrick Avenue Southeast
22
Turn right onto Thornapple River Drive Southeast
0.5 mi·1 min·Thornapple River Drive Southeast
23
Continue on Headley Street Southeast
351 ft·19 sec·Headley Street Southeast
24
Turn left onto Ada Drive Southeast
0.1 mi·23 sec·Ada Drive Southeast
25
Arrive at destination
Ada Drive Southeast
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 72.9 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.1 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.9 miles or 1h 25m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ada, 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 145.9 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 I 96 for about 111.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.9 mi from Dearborn, MI
· 1h 25m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.81 one way
$45.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.04
$50.09
premium
$4.89
$28.08
$56.15
diesel
$5.61
$32.21
$64.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.8
0
$15.32
$7.00
Efficient EV
36.5
0
$12.77
$5.84
EV Truck/SUV
58.4
0
$20.43
$9.34
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Morning
in Dearborn on Saturday
Local time
9:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ada, MI
Morning
in Ada on Saturday
Local time
9:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
15 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 48m 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 Ada, MI covers 145.9 miles and takes about 2h 48m 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 72.9 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 $22.81 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 is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 145.9 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 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Dearborn, MI and Ada, MI, road signs point toward M 10 North: Lansing and M 50: Lowell.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
