Traveling from Beechwood to Dearborn covers 178.6 miles across the Michigan Midwest, making for a straightforward drive that typically takes 3 hours and 23 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this trip works perfectly as a single-day excursion, saving you the hassle of booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $27 on fuel for the journey, keeping your travel budget relatively low. The route relies heavily on major infrastructure, ensuring a consistent pace throughout the drive. Whether you are heading east for business or a weekend getaway, this highway-focused path provides a reliable 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
89.3 miles from Beechwood, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
116.9 mi
2h 5m
Paul B. Henry Freeway
18.4 mi
19m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.9 mi
10m
Gerald R Ford Freeway
8.5 mi
9m
Southfield Freeway
8.2 mi
11m
I 196 BL
4.4 mi
6m
John C Lodge Freeway
4.1 mi
4m
East Lakewood Boulevard
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 116.9 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Beechwood, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on this road
214 ft·17 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Douglas Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Douglas Avenue
3
Continue on Howard Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·Howard Avenue
4
Continue on East Lakewood Boulevard
2.6 mi·4 min·East Lakewood Boulevard
5
Turn right onto 112th Avenue
505 ft·14 sec·112th Avenue
6
Turn left onto I 196 BL
4.1 mi·5 min·I 196 BL
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the ramp onto I 196 BL
0.3 mi·41 sec·I 196 BL
Toward I 196 EAST: Grand Rapids
8
Merge onto I 196
8.5 mi·9 min·Gerald R Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 64Toward M 6 East: LansingUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on M 6
18 mi·19 min·Paul B. Henry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·55 sec
Toward I-96 East: LansingUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 96
50 mi·53 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
67 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 96
Toward I 96 East: DetroitUse the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on I 696
8.9 mi·10 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port HuronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto M 10
4.1 mi·4 min·John C Lodge Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 14CToward M 39Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto M 39
8.2 mi·11 min·Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 7Toward M 153Use the slight right lane.
19
Continue on South M 39 Service Drive
0.3 mi·38 sec·South M 39 Service Drive
20
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward Ford Road
21
Turn straight onto M 153
2.1 mi·3 min·Ford Road
22
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
23
Turn right onto US 12
79 ft·1 sec·Michigan Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
US 12
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 23-minute transit, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the 178.6-mile trek. Departing early in the morning can help you avoid the heaviest traffic patterns near your destination in Dearborn. Since the route is almost entirely highway-based, keeping a steady pace is your best strategy for managing fuel consumption. Take advantage of the flexibility offered by this single-day trip by keeping your departure time fluid based on local traffic reports. Prioritize a single, well-timed rest stop midway through your journey to break up the long 116.9-mile stretch on I-96.
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 89.3 miles from Beechwood, MI, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.9 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.3 miles or 1h 41m 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 42m
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 Beechwood, 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 Beechwood, MI
This is one driving day of about 178.6 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Beechwood, 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 96 for about 116.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.7 and 175.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
16.7 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward M 6 East: Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 64
Toward M 6 East: Lansing
7
36 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-96 East: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-96 East: Lansing
7
86.6 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96 toward I 96 East: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
7
166.6 mi into trip|~3h 4m 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
175.3 mi into trip|~3h 17m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.92 one way
$55.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.66
$61.31
premium
$4.89
$34.37
$68.74
diesel
$5.61
$39.43
$78.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.6
0
$18.75
$8.57
Efficient EV
44.7
0
$15.63
$7.14
EV Truck/SUV
71.4
0
$25.00
$11.43
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Beechwood, MI
Late night
in Beechwood on Tuesday
Local time
5:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dearborn, MI
Late night
in Dearborn on Tuesday
Local time
5:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 23m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed experience, as 95 percent of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the majority of your time navigating I-96, the Paul B. Henry Freeway, and the Walter P. Reuther Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch lasts for 116.9 miles along I-96, which requires steady focus and endurance behind the wheel. Because this is a highway-focused drive, the character of the road remains consistent rather than technical. You should prepare for a utilitarian, interstate-heavy journey that prioritizes efficiency over varied terrain.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.9 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Paul B. Henry Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 178.6 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 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.6 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
939 ft591 ft
Total Climb
401 ft
Total Descent
415 ft
Highest Point
939 ft
~127.6 mi in
Elevation Range
347 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Beechwood, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 6 East: Lansing, M 5 East: Port Huron and M 39.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 178.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.9 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Dearborn, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.6 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Dearborn, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
