Origin
Southfield, MI
Evening in Southfield on Sunday
Local time
6:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southfield, MI to Dearborn Heights, MI
Drive Time
20m
Distance
13.1 mi
21 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southfield, MI
fish socks
Dearborn Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Southfield to Dearborn Heights, you can expect a quick 13.1-mile journey that typically takes about 20 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the short duration eliminates the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Southfield Freeway, Telegraph Road, and the Jeffries Freeway. Budgeting approximately $2 for fuel makes this a highly economical commute within the Midwest region. Given the efficiency of these main roads, this drive serves as a straightforward connection between these two Michigan locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
6.6 miles from Southfield, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 61% of the drive spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a mix of fast-paced highway segments and local transitions that define the character of this transit. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Southfield Freeway, spanning 5.5 miles of the total distance. Expect a functional, direct drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over scenic detours. Navigating through this corridor requires steady attention to changing traffic patterns as you move between the freeway systems and local roads.
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.
Southfield Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southfield Freeway and Telegraph Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southfield Road.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 13.1 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: near the start (Southfield Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
|
Southfield Road
Turn right onto Southfield Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
6.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 96: Downtown Detroit, Lansing
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 11A
Toward I 96: Downtown Detroit, Lansing
8
6.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 96 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward US 24: Telegraph Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 179
Toward US 24: Telegraph Road
6
9.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
Telegraph Drive
Turn left onto Telegraph Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Southfield, MI to Dearborn Heights, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Lansing along the way.
Lansing
6.2 mi in
|
~8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southfield Freeway | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Telegraph Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Jeffries Freeway (Local) | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Southfield Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Telegraph Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Schoolcraft Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 10 Mile Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Southfield Freeway
— 5.5 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southfield, MI and Dearborn Heights, MI.
1
Start on West 10 Mile Road
192 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 10 Mile Road
2
Turn right onto Southfield Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Southfield Road
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on Southfield Freeway
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 11A
Toward I 96: Downtown Detroit, Lansing
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 96
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Jeffries Freeway (Local)
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 179
Toward US 24: Telegraph Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto Schoolcraft Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Schoolcraft Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn left onto Telegraph Drive
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Telegraph Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn straight onto US 24
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Telegraph Road
Use the none lane.
11
Turn slight left
15 ft
·
0 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 20-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any stops along the way, as the route is designed for continuous movement. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, though the $2 estimated cost makes it easy to manage your budget. Because the route relies on a specific combination of the Southfield Freeway and Telegraph Road, checking live traffic conditions before you leave is your best strategy for a smooth arrival. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning your schedule around your specific destination needs.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 6.6 miles from Southfield, MI, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.5 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 13.1 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.6 miles or 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dearborn Heights, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Southfield, 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 Southfield, MI
This is one driving day of about 13.1 miles and 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Southfield, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Southfield Freeway for about 5.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.6 mi from Southfield, MI · 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 13.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.6 miles from Southfield, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dearborn Heights, MI
The final approach into Dearborn Heights, 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 Heights, MI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.99 one way
$3.98 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.19 | $4.39 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.47 | $4.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.91 | $5.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.38 | $0.63 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 Heights, MI
Evening in Dearborn Heights on Sunday
Local time
6:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
20m 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 Southfield, MI to Dearborn Heights, MI covers 13.1 miles and takes about 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southfield Freeway, Telegraph Road, Jeffries Freeway (Local). Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.6 miles from Southfield, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.99 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 is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 13.1 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: near the start (Southfield Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Southfield, MI to Dearborn Heights, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Lansing along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Dearborn Heights, MI
More from Southfield, MI
More trips to Dearborn Heights, MI
Explore more options from Southfield, MI or browse trips ending in Dearborn Heights, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.
Explore maps for Southfield, MI or Dearborn Heights, MI on MapSof.net.