Origin
Riverside, MI
Morning in Riverside on Monday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Riverside, MI to Dearborn, MI
Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
180.8 mi
291 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 7m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 27m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 28m
5 PM
3h 41m
8 PM
3h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Riverside, MI
Birka Ollyk
Dearborn, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Riverside, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 180.8 miles and takes about 3h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, I 196, Schaefer Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 173.3 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.46 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
90.4 miles from Riverside, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 18m highway drive covering 180.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I 196. The longest continuous stretch is about 173.3 miles on I 94.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 173.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 196. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 141.6 miles in near I 94.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 180.8 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 141.6 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
141.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann Arbor
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann Arbor
8
178.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward Greenfield Road, Schaefer Road
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 208
Toward Greenfield Road, Schaefer Road
5
178.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Schaefer Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Schaefer Road
8
178.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Schaefer Road, Butler Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Schaefer Road, Butler Road
6
180.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m in
|
US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Turn left onto US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Riverside, MI to Dearborn, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Ann Arbor along the way.
Ann Arbor
141.6 mi in
|
~2h 33m
|
via I 94
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 173.3 mi | 3h 5m |
| I 196 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Riverside Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Butler Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Coloma Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 173.3 mi, about 3h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on Riverside Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Riverside Road
2
Turn right onto Coloma Road
424 ft
·
13 sec
·
Coloma Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
4
Merge onto I 196; US 31
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 196; US 31
5
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I-94 EAST: Detroit
6
Merge onto I 94
137 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
I 94
Toward I 94: Detroit
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 94
Toward I 94, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann Arbor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 208
Toward Greenfield Road, Schaefer Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward Schaefer Road
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Schaefer Road, Butler Road
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto Butler Road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Butler Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto Schaefer Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Schaefer Road
13
Turn left onto US 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
US 12
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 90.4 miles from Riverside, MI, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 173.3 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.4 miles or 1h 38m 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 40m
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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, MI
This is one driving day of about 180.8 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Riverside, 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 94 for about 173.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 90.4 mi from Riverside, MI · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 90.4 miles from Riverside, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 173.3 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
$27.46 one way
$54.92 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $30.27 | $60.55 |
| premium | $4.80 | $34.13 | $68.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $40.17 | $80.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.98 | $8.68 |
| Efficient EV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.82 | $7.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.3 | 0 | $25.31 | $11.57 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Morning in Dearborn on Monday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
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
3 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
3h 18m 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 Riverside, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 180.8 miles and takes about 3h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, I 196, Schaefer 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 90.4 miles from Riverside, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.46 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 180.8 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 141.6 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Riverside, MI to Dearborn, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Ann Arbor along the way.
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