Origin
Ironwood, MI
Afternoon in Ironwood on Friday
Local time
1:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ironwood, MI to Dearborn, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
11h 28m
Distance
603.6 mi
971 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$94
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
11h 18m
★
6 AM
11h 29m
8 AM
11h 49m
10 AM
11h 36m
12 PM
11h 34m
3 PM
11h 37m
5 PM
11h 48m
8 PM
11h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ironwood, MI
Mathias Reding
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ironwood, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 603.6 miles and takes about 11h 28m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 75, M 28, M-28 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 290.2 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $94.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
301.8 miles from Ironwood, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 603.6 miles and 11h 28m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 75 and M 28.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 290.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 11h 28m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 400.2 miles in near I 75.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 603.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 400.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 535.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 596.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 28 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
400.2 mi into trip
|
~7h 52m in
|
I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
6
535.3 mi into trip
|
~10h 11m in
|
I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
596.3 mi into trip
|
~11h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53B
Toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
8
596.6 mi into trip
|
~11h 17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
8
602.4 mi into trip
|
~11h 25m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ironwood, MI to Dearborn, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.
Detroit
400.2 mi in
|
~7h 52m
|
via I 75
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 290.2 mi | 5h 1m |
| M 28 | 78.3 mi | 1h 31m |
| M-28 | 70.9 mi | 1h 24m |
| US 2 | 65.1 mi | 1h 15m |
| US 41 | 41 mi | 54m |
| M 77 | 17.3 mi | 20m |
| West Cloverland Drive | 11.5 mi | 14m |
| Palms Avenue | 10.2 mi | 14m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 290.2 mi, about 5h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ironwood, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on North Lowell Street
97 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Lowell Street
2
Turn left onto East Ayer Street
461 ft
·
25 sec
·
East Ayer Street
3
Turn left onto US 2 BUS
474 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Suffolk Street
4
Turn right onto US 2 BUS
454 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Frederick Street
5
Turn slight left onto US 2 BUS
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Douglas Boulevard
6
Turn right onto US 2
12 mi
·
14 min
·
West Cloverland Drive
7
Turn left onto Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Smith Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto M 28
78 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
M 28
9
Turn right onto US 41; M 28
40 mi
·
52 min
·
US 41; M 28
10
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
92 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 41; M 28
11
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 41; M 28
12
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
94 ft
·
5 sec
·
Palms Avenue
13
Continue on US 41; M 28
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Palms Avenue
14
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
116 ft
·
6 sec
·
US-41/M-28
15
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
US-41/M-28
16
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
103 ft
·
6 sec
·
US-41/M-28
17
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US-41/M-28
18
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Marquette Bypass
19
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
109 ft
·
6 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
20
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
21
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
107 ft
·
1 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
22
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
23
Take the exit onto US 41; M 28
410 ft
·
10 sec
·
US 41; M 28
24
Merge onto US 41; M 28
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Front Street
25
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US-41/M-28
26
Turn left onto M 28
36 mi
·
42 min
·
M-28
27
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
West Munising Avenue
28
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Cedar Street
29
Continue on M 28
35 mi
·
41 min
·
M-28
30
Turn sharp right onto M 77
17 mi
·
20 min
·
M 77
31
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
65 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
US 2
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
33
Merge onto I 75
94 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
I 75
34
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
124 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 75; US 23
36
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 53B
Toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
38
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
39
Merge onto I 94
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 210A
Toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
At end of road, turn right onto US 12
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Michigan Avenue
Use the right lane.
42
Arrive at destination
US 12
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 301.8 miles from Ironwood, MI, or about 6h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 290.2 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 133 miles or 2h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 301.8 miles or 6h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 301.8 miles or 6h 10m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10h 20m
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 Ironwood, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ironwood, MI
Aim for roughly 302 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Dearborn, MI
Aim for roughly 302 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 133 miles from Ironwood, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 290.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 301.8 mi from Ironwood, MI · 6h 10m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
199 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
398 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Boyne City, MIOvernight Options
Night 1
302 mi · about 5.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near McMillan, MI after about 302 miles or 5.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 133 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 301.8 miles from Ironwood, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 290.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 302 miles or 5.7 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Dearborn, MI with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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
$94.37 one way
$188.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
211 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $103.61 | $207.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $116.16 | $232.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $133.27 | $266.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$94
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$224–$334
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 211.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 181.1 | 2 | $63.38 | $28.97 |
| Efficient EV | 150.9 | 1 | $52.82 | $24.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 241.4 | 3 | $84.50 | $38.63 |
Gas CO2
211 kg
EV CO2
71 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Friday
Local time
2:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Flat Rock, MI
199 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
26 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
11h 28m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ironwood, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 603.6 miles and takes about 11h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, M 28, M-28. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 302 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 301.8 miles from Ironwood, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $94.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 603.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 400.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 535.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 596.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ironwood, MI to Dearborn, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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