Origin
La Salle, MI
Late night in La Salle on Friday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Salle, MI to Dearborn, MI
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
49m
Distance
41 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Salle, MI
Antonio Garcia Prats
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from La Salle, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 41 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Fisher Freeway, South Otter Creek Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.4 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 41 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 49m highway drive covering 41 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and Fisher Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 26.4 miles on I 75.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 26.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Fisher Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 41 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 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 North: Detroit
Navigation decision point
Toward I 75 North: Detroit
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
37.3 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward M 85: Fort Street, Schaefer Highway
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 43
Toward M 85: Fort Street, Schaefer Highway
8
37.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Schaefer Highway North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward Schaefer Highway North
6
41 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Turn left onto US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between La Salle, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward Schaefer Highway and Schaefer Highway North.
Schaefer Highway
37.3 mi in
|
~41m
Schaefer Highway North
37.4 mi in
|
~41m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 26.4 mi | 28m |
| Fisher Freeway | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| South Otter Creek Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Highway South | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| South Dixie Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Laplaisance Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 26.4 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Salle, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on Laplaisance Road
72 ft
·
6 sec
·
Laplaisance Road
2
Turn left onto M 125
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Dixie Highway
3
Turn left onto South Otter Creek Road
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South Otter Creek Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 75 North: Detroit
5
Merge onto I 75
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 75
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Fisher Freeway
Toward I 75
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 43
Toward M 85: Fort Street, Schaefer Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward Schaefer Highway North
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn slight left onto Schaefer Highway South
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Schaefer Highway South
10
Continue on Schaefer Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Schaefer Road
11
Turn left onto US 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
US 12
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.5 mi from La Salle, MI · 23m 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.5 miles from La Salle, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dearborn, MI
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Dearborn, MI if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.41 one way
$12.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.04 | $14.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.89 | $15.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.05 | $18.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.59 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.62 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Late night in Dearborn on Friday
Local time
12:35 AM
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
12 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
49m 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 La Salle, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 41 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Fisher Freeway, South Otter Creek Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.5 miles from La Salle, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.41 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 41 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 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between La Salle, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward Schaefer Highway and Schaefer Highway North.
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