Origin
East Grand Rapids, MI
Afternoon in East Grand Rapids on Thursday
Local time
2:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Grand Rapids, MI to Dearborn, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 53m
Distance
151.4 mi
244 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Grand Rapids, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from East Grand Rapids, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 151.4 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 96, Walter P Reuther Freeway, Southfield Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 122.9 miles on I 96. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.67 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
75.7 miles from East Grand Rapids, 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 53m. Total distance: 151.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 53m highway drive covering 151.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 96 and Walter P Reuther Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 122.9 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 19 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 122.9 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hall Street Southeast.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 151.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Hall Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (Cascade Road Southeast): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.4 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 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
|
Hall Street Southeast
Turn left onto Hall Street Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Cascade Road Southeast
Turn sharp right onto Cascade Road Southeast
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
59.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 East: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
7
139.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 34m 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
7
148.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Grand Rapids, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East: Port Huron and M 39.
M 5 East: Port Huron
126.3 mi in
|
~2h 20m
|
via I 696
M 39
139.4 mi in
|
~2h 34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 122.9 mi | 2h 11m |
| 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 |
| Lake Drive Southeast | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| East Paris Avenue Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Hall Street Southeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 122.9 mi, about 2h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Grand Rapids, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on Breton Road Southeast
43 ft
·
9 sec
·
Breton Road Southeast
2
Turn left onto Hall Street Southeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hall Street Southeast
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Lake Drive Southeast
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Drive Southeast
4
Turn left onto East Paris Avenue Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Paris Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
5
Turn sharp right onto Cascade Road Southeast
426 ft
·
8 sec
·
Cascade Road Southeast
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 96 East: Lansing
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 96
56 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
67 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
I 96
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
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.
10
Merge onto M 10
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 14C
Toward M 39
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto M 39
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 7
Toward M 153
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on South M 39 Service Drive
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South M 39 Service Drive
15
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Ford Road
16
Turn straight onto M 153
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Ford Road
17
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto US 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
US 12
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 75.7 miles from East Grand Rapids, MI, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.9 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.7 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 17m
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 East Grand Rapids, 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 East Grand Rapids, MI
This is one driving day of about 151.4 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from East Grand Rapids, 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 122.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.7 mi from East Grand Rapids, MI · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.7 miles from East Grand Rapids, 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 122.9 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.
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
$23.67 one way
$47.34 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.99 | $51.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.14 | $58.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.43 | $66.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.90 | $7.27 |
| Efficient EV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.25 | $6.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.20 | $9.69 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Afternoon in Dearborn on Thursday
Local time
2:54 PM
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
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
8 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 53m 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 East Grand Rapids, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 151.4 miles and takes about 2h 53m 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 75.7 miles from East Grand Rapids, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.67 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 151.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Hall Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (Cascade Road Southeast): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.4 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between East Grand Rapids, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East: Port Huron and M 39.
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