Origin
Dimondale, MI
Morning in Dimondale on Wednesday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dimondale, MI to Dearborn, MI
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
91.1 mi
147 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dimondale, MI
fish socks
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 91.1-mile drive from Dimondale to Dearborn, Michigan, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 47 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical option for a day trip within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes major freeways, making it a quick and efficient journey. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so don't expect significant detours or extended stops unless you plan them yourself. This drive is ideal for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing 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
45.6 miles from Dimondale, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for 91% of this 91.1-mile journey. The primary roads include I-96, the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, and the Southfield Freeway, indicating a predominantly interstate drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 61.5 miles on I-96, offering extended periods of steady cruising. This route is characterized by its focus on efficient travel rather than scenic exploration, with the road primarily serving as a conduit between your origin and destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 61.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Walter P Reuther Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near I 96.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 4.6 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.7 miles (M 39 / Southfield Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 96
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
79.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward M 39
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14C
Toward M 39
5
79.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m 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.
7
87.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward M 153
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward M 153
6
90.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
Schaefer Road
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dimondale, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East: Port Huron and M 39.
M 5 East: Port Huron
66.1 mi in
|
~1h 13m
|
via I 696
M 39
79.2 mi in
|
~1h 28m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 61.5 mi | 1h 5m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| Southfield Freeway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Ford Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| North Michigan Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West Holt Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Eaton Rapids Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dimondale, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on East Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Washington Street
2
Continue on West Holt Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Holt Highway
3
Turn right onto M 99
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Michigan Road
4
Continue on M 99
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Michigan Road
5
Continue on M 99
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Eaton Rapids Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
7
Merge onto I 96
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on I 696
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port Huron
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto M 10
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 14C
Toward M 39
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto M 39
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 7
Toward M 153
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on South M 39 Service Drive
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South M 39 Service Drive
14
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Ford Road
15
Turn straight onto M 153
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Ford Road
16
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto US 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
US 12
Trip Plan
Given its short duration of under two hours, this route offers plenty of flexibility for departure times. Aim to leave Dimondale to avoid the heaviest commuting traffic, especially if you're traveling on a weekday. With no designated stops included, you can easily make this a point-to-point drive, or you can choose to add a brief break along the way if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before embarking on the 61.5-mile stretch on I-96, to ensure you have enough to reach Dearborn comfortably. The $14 fuel cost suggests that filling up before you leave Dimondale would be a prudent step.
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 45.6 miles from Dimondale, MI, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.6 miles or 52m 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 23m
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 Dimondale, 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 Dimondale, MI
This is one driving day of about 91.1 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dimondale, 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 I 96 for about 61.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.6 mi from Dimondale, MI · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 45.6 miles from Dimondale, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 96 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.5 miles.
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
$14.24 one way
$28.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.64 | $31.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.53 | $35.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.11 | $40.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.57 | $4.37 |
| Efficient EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.97 | $3.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.4 | 0 | $12.75 | $5.83 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Dearborn, MI
Morning in Dearborn on Wednesday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 14 mph
4% chance
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
10 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
1h 47m 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 Dimondale, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 91.1 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 96, Walter P Reuther Freeway, Southfield 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 45.6 miles from Dimondale, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.24 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 91.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 4.6 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.7 miles (M 39 / Southfield Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Dimondale, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East: Port Huron and M 39.
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