Origin
Detroit, MI
Evening in Detroit on Sunday
Local time
7:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Detroit, MI to Dearborn, MI
Drive Time
14m
Distance
9.1 mi
15 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 17m
8 PM
0h 14m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dearborn, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Detroit to Dearborn, you are looking at a quick 9.1-mile trip that typically takes about 14 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single day, as it functions more like a short commute within the Midwest region than a lengthy road trip. You will primarily utilize the Edsel Ford Freeway, John C Lodge Freeway, and Michigan Avenue to navigate between these two Michigan cities. With an estimated fuel cost of just $1, this route is exceptionally budget-friendly. Because there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to complete the entire journey in one go without needing to plan for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
4.6 miles from Detroit, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 76% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend the most significant portion of your time on the Edsel Ford Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 4.5 miles. The personality of this drive is functional and efficient, shifting from the major freeway infrastructure into the city streets of Michigan Avenue. While the transition from the freeway to local roads is straightforward, the ride is defined by its brevity and directness. You won't encounter technical terrain or winding scenic backroads here, just a practical path that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
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.
Edsel Ford Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Edsel Ford Freeway and John C Lodge Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Bates Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 9.1 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: at 0.1 miles (Bates Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Griswold Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Bates Street
Turn right onto Bates Street
Navigation decision point
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Griswold Street
Turn left onto Griswold Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
3.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 4B
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
8
8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 210A
Toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
6
8.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 12 / Michigan Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edsel Ford Freeway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Michigan Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Jefferson Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Congress Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Griswold Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cadillac Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bates Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Edsel Ford Freeway
— 4.5 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on Cadillac Square
313 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cadillac Square
2
Turn right onto Bates Street
247 ft
·
7 sec
·
Bates Street
3
Turn right onto East Congress Street
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Congress Street
4
Turn left onto Griswold Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Griswold Street
Use the none lane.
5
Turn right onto M 10
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Jefferson Avenue
6
Continue on M 10
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 4B
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 94
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 210A
Toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
At end of road, turn right onto US 12
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Michigan Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Arrive at destination
US 12
Trip Plan
Because this is such a short journey, you have total flexibility in your departure time. Since there are no stops planned along the 9.1-mile stretch, you can easily fit this drive into any part of your day without worrying about rest breaks or refueling logistics. Keep in mind that the majority of your time is spent on freeways, so stay alert for traffic patterns on the Edsel Ford Freeway. A smart tip for this specific route is to monitor local traffic reports before you leave, as the high highway percentage means any congestion could quickly impact your 14-minute arrival time. Use this quick transit to your advantage and enjoy the ease of a short, predictable commute.
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 4.6 miles from Detroit, MI, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.5 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 9.1 miles or 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.6 miles or 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dearborn, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Detroit, 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 Detroit, MI
This is one driving day of about 9.1 miles and 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Detroit, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Edsel Ford Freeway for about 4.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.6 mi from Detroit, MI · 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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 9.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4.6 miles from Detroit, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dearborn, MI
The final approach into Dearborn, 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 Dearborn, 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
$1.38 one way
$2.76 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.52 | $3.05 |
| premium | $4.80 | $1.72 | $3.44 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.02 | $4.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.96 | $0.44 |
| Efficient EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Dearborn, MI
Evening in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
7:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
20 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
14m 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 Detroit, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 9.1 miles and takes about 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Edsel Ford Freeway, John C Lodge Freeway, Michigan Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.6 miles from Detroit, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.38 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 9.1 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: at 0.1 miles (Bates Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Griswold Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Detroit, MI to Dearborn, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Dearborn, MI
More trips to Dearborn, MI
Explore more options from Detroit, MI or browse trips ending in Dearborn, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.
Explore maps for Detroit, MI or Dearborn, MI on MapSof.net.