Origin
Waterford, MI
Evening in Waterford on Wednesday
Local time
6:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterford, MI to Dearborn, MI
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
55m
Distance
34.4 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterford, MI
Adrien Olichon
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 34.4-mile drive from Waterford to Dearborn in Michigan's Midwest region is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 55 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of major roadways, including South Telegraph Road, Southfield Freeway, and John C Lodge Freeway. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $5, this route offers a straightforward journey. There are no recommended overnight stops, making it a convenient option for a quick excursion or commute within the state. Plan for a smooth and direct trip without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
17.2 miles from Waterford, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with about 34% of the journey on highways. Your longest continuous stretch will be 11.2 miles along South Telegraph Road, offering a sustained period of travel before transitioning onto other main arteries. The drive progresses through various urban and suburban landscapes as you make your way from Waterford to Dearborn. This blend of road types means you'll experience both faster-paced freeway driving and more varied conditions on arterial roads, keeping the journey dynamic.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Telegraph Road is the longest continuous segment at about 11.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Williams Lake Road.
Route Complexity
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 34.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Williams Lake Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (Airport Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Williams Lake Road
At end of road, turn left onto Williams Lake Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Airport Road
Turn right onto Airport Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
22.4 mi into trip
|
~36m 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
31.2 mi into trip
|
~48m 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
33.9 mi into trip
|
~54m 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 Waterford, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 10 South: Port Huron, Detroit, M 39 and M 153.
M 10 South: Port Huron
18.6 mi in
|
~31m
Detroit
18.6 mi in
|
~31m
M 39
22.4 mi in
|
~36m
M 153
31.2 mi in
|
~48m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Telegraph Road | 11.2 mi | 17m |
| Southfield Freeway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| Highland Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Ford Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Airport Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Voorheis Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Huron Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
South Telegraph Road
— 11.2 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterford, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on David K Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
David K Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Williams Lake Road
245 ft
·
8 sec
·
Williams Lake Road
3
Turn right onto Airport Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Airport Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto M 59
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Highland Road
5
Continue on M 59
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Huron Street
6
Turn right onto Voorheis Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Voorheis Street
Use the right lane.
7
Turn right onto US 24
11 mi
·
17 min
·
South Telegraph Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 24
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Telegraph Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 696 East, M 10 South: Port Huron, Detroit
10
Merge onto M 10
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
John C Lodge Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 14C
Toward M 39
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto M 39
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 7
Toward M 153
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on South M 39 Service Drive
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South M 39 Service Drive
15
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Ford Road
16
Turn straight onto M 153
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Ford Road
17
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto US 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
US 12
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 55 minutes, you can be quite flexible with your departure time. Leaving early in the morning or later in the evening can help you avoid peak traffic, especially on the Southfield Freeway and John C Lodge Freeway sections. Since there are no mandatory stops and the total distance is only 34.4 miles, you won't need to worry about fuel stops unless your tank is very low; the estimated $5 fuel cost is minimal. The longest stretch of 11.2 miles on South Telegraph Road is your best opportunity for a quick stretch break if needed, though it's unlikely to be necessary on this brief trip.
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 17.2 miles from Waterford, MI, or about 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.2 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 34 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.2 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dearborn, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Waterford, MI.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waterford, MI
This is one driving day of about 34.4 miles and 55m.
At 34.4 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on South Telegraph Road for about 11.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.2 mi from Waterford, MI · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Waterford, 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
$5.38 one way
$10.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.90 | $11.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.62 | $13.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.60 | $15.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 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 | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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 Wednesday
Local time
6:31 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
15 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
55m 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 Waterford, MI to Dearborn, MI covers 34.4 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Telegraph Road, Southfield Freeway, John C Lodge Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.2 miles from Waterford, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.38 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 34.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Williams Lake Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (Airport Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Waterford, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 10 South: Port Huron, Detroit, M 39 and M 153.
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