Origin
Highland, MI
Evening in Highland on Thursday
Local time
7:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland, MI to Dearborn, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
42.7 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland, MI
Francesco Ungaro
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Highland, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 42.7 miles and takes about 1h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Walter P Reuther Freeway, I 96, Southfield Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.9 miles on Walter P Reuther Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 42.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 1m highway drive covering 42.7 miles, with most of the trip on Walter P Reuther Freeway and I 96. The longest continuous stretch is about 8.9 miles on Walter P Reuther Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Walter P Reuther Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P Reuther Freeway and I 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near West Commerce Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 3.4 miles (West Commerce Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (South Milford Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
West Commerce Street
Turn right onto West Commerce Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
South Milford Road
Turn left onto South Milford Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
30.7 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
39.4 mi into trip
|
~54m 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
42.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 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 Highland, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East: Port Huron, M 39 and M 153.
M 5 East: Port Huron
17.6 mi in
|
~27m
|
via I 696
M 39
30.7 mi in
|
~42m
M 153
39.4 mi in
|
~54m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| I 96 | 8.3 mi | 8m |
| Southfield Freeway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| South Milford Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| North Milford Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Ford Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P Reuther Freeway
— 8.9 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on this road
173 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto North Milford Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Milford Road
3
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Highland Avenue
4
Turn right onto West Commerce Street
434 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Commerce Street
5
Turn left onto Peters Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Peters Road
6
Continue on West Huron Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West Huron Street
7
Turn right onto General Motors Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
General Motors Road
8
Turn left onto South Milford Road
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
South Milford Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 96
8.3 mi
·
8 min
·
I 96
Use the straight lane.
11
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.
12
Merge onto M 10
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 14C
Toward M 39
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto M 39
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 7
Toward M 153
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on South M 39 Service Drive
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South M 39 Service Drive
17
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Ford Road
18
Turn straight onto M 153
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Ford Road
19
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto US 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
US 12
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.3 mi from Highland, MI · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.3 miles from Highland, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.68 one way
$13.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.22 | $16.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.43 | $18.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.98 | $2.73 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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 Thursday
Local time
7:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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 1m 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 Highland, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 42.7 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Walter P Reuther Freeway, I 96, 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 21.3 miles from Highland, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.68 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 42.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 3.4 miles (West Commerce Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (South Milford Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Highland, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East: Port Huron, M 39 and M 153.
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