Origin
Dearborn, MI
Morning in Dearborn on Monday
Local time
7:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dearborn, MI to Almena, MI
Drive Time
2h 49m
Distance
149.5 mi
241 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 57m
12 PM
2h 55m
3 PM
2h 58m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dearborn, MI
fish socks
Almena, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Dearborn, MI to Almena, MI covers 149.5 miles and takes about 2h 49m 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, County Road 652, Schaefer Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 141.8 miles on Detroit Industrial Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.71 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
74.7 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 49m highway drive covering 149.5 miles, with most of the trip on Detroit Industrial Expressway and County Road 652. The longest continuous stretch is about 141.8 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 15 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 141.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Detroit Industrial Expressway and County Road 652. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Schaefer Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 149.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 11 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.
6
144.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 36m in
|
North Main Street
Enter roundabout onto North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Industrial Expressway | 141.8 mi | 2h 31m |
| County Road 652 | 2.9 mi | 7m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| County Road 375 | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Red Arrow Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road 653 | <0.1 mi | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Detroit Industrial Expressway
— 141.8 mi, about 2h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Almena, 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
125 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 66
Toward Mattawan
8
Enter roundabout onto North Main Street
22 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Main Street
9
Continue on North Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
10
Continue on 652
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 652
11
Turn left onto Red Arrow Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Red Arrow Highway
12
Turn right onto 652
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 652
13
At end of road, turn left onto 375
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
County Road 375
14
Turn right onto 653
18 ft
·
0 sec
·
County Road 653
15
Arrive at destination
653
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 74.7 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.8 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.7 miles or 1h 22m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Almena, 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 149.5 miles and 2h 49m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Detroit Industrial Expressway for about 141.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.7 mi from Dearborn, MI · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.7 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 141.8 miles.
Arriving in Almena, MI
The final approach into Almena, 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 Almena, 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
$22.71 one way
$45.42 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $25.03 | $50.06 |
| premium | $4.80 | $28.22 | $56.45 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $33.21 | $66.43 |
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: 52.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.70 | $7.18 |
| Efficient EV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.08 | $5.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.8 | 0 | $20.93 | $9.57 |
Gas CO2
52 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.
Destination
Almena, MI
Morning in Almena on Monday
Local time
7:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
6 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 49m 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 Almena, MI covers 149.5 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Detroit Industrial Expressway, County Road 652, Schaefer Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.7 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 $22.71 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 149.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 Almena, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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