Canadian Lakes, MI to Dearborn, MI is 181.2 miles and takes about 3h 33m via I 96 and US-127, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a highway-focused drive that's straightforward and efficient. It's a solid choice for a single-day journey, allowing ample time for departure and arrival without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you prioritize direct travel and minimal fuss.
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
90.6 miles from Canadian Lakes, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
56.1 mi
1h
US-127
33.4 mi
35m
Business US-127
26.6 mi
27m
West Remus Road
14 mi
19m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.9 mi
10m
South Bagley Road
8.9 mi
10m
9 Mile Road
8.4 mi
11m
Southfield Freeway
8.2 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 56.1 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Canadian Lakes, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on 2nd Street
215 ft·16 sec·2nd Street
2
Turn left onto West Royal Road
0.5 mi·1 min·West Royal Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Pierce Road
0.6 mi·53 sec·Pierce Road
4
Continue on 100th Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·100th Avenue
5
Turn right onto Buchanan Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Buchanan Road
6
Turn left onto 90th Avenue
0.5 mi·43 sec·90th Avenue
7
Turn right onto 9 Mile Road
2.0 mi·2 min·9 Mile Road
8
At end of road, turn right onto M 20
3.5 mi·4 min·9 Mile Road
9
Continue on M 20
0.6 mi·1 min·West Wheatland Avenue
10
Continue on M 20
2.8 mi·4 min·9 Mile Road
11
Continue on M 20
14 mi·19 min·West Remus Road
12
Turn right onto South Lincoln Road
1.0 mi·1 min·South Lincoln Road
13
Turn left onto East Broomfield Road
0.5 mi·41 sec·East Broomfield Road
14
Continue on West Broomfield Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West Broomfield Street
15
Turn right onto BUS US 127
0.7 mi·1 min·South Mission Street
16
Continue on BUS US 127
1.3 mi·1 min·Business US-127
17
Keep slight right at fork onto BUS US 127
25 mi·25 min·Business US-127
18
Continue on US 127
5.9 mi·6 min·South Bagley Road
19
Continue on US 127
1.4 mi·1 min·US-127
20
Continue on US 127
3.0 mi·3 min·South Bagley Road
21
Continue on US 127
32 mi·33 min·US-127
22
Take the exit onto I 496
0.9 mi·1 min·I 496
Exit 73AToward I 96 East: DetroitUse the slight left lane.
23
Merge onto I 96
56 mi·1 hr·I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
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.
25
Merge onto M 10
4.1 mi·4 min·John C Lodge Freeway
26
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 14CToward M 39Use the slight right lane.
27
Merge onto M 39
8.2 mi·11 min·Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 7Toward M 153Use the slight right lane.
29
Continue on South M 39 Service Drive
0.3 mi·38 sec·South M 39 Service Drive
30
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward Ford Road
31
Turn straight onto M 153
2.1 mi·3 min·Ford Road
32
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
33
Turn right onto US 12
79 ft·1 sec·Michigan Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
US 12
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 33 minutes, this is comfortably a same-day trip. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Dearborn with daylight to spare. With only one stop suggested, you can plan for a break halfway or at a point that suits your needs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits is over 50 miles. Given the $28 fuel cost estimate, it's wise to fill up before departing Canadian Lakes to ensure you have a full tank for the entire journey.
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 90.6 miles from Canadian Lakes, MI, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.1 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 40 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.6 miles or 1h 48m 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 51m
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 Canadian Lakes, 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 Canadian Lakes, MI
This is one driving day of about 181.2 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Canadian Lakes, 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 56.1 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 99.1 and 180.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
99.1 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|I 496
Take the exit onto I 496 toward I 96 East: Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 73A
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
5
100 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|I 96
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
169.2 mi into trip|~3h 14m 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
177.9 mi into trip|~3h 26m 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
180.7 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|Schaefer Road
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.33 one way
$56.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.10
$62.21
premium
$4.89
$34.87
$69.74
diesel
$5.61
$40.01
$80.01
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: 63.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.4
0
$19.03
$8.70
Efficient EV
45.3
0
$15.85
$7.25
EV Truck/SUV
72.5
0
$25.37
$11.60
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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Canadian Lakes, MI
Morning
in Canadian Lakes on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dearborn, MI
Morning
in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 13 to 16 mph85% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 11:02AM EDT until April 23 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 11:02AM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
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
4 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 33m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 76% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 96, including a longest stretch of 56.1 miles without needing to exit. The primary roads include I 96, US-127, and Business US-127, indicating a mix of interstate speeds and potentially some business loop sections. The drive is designed for steady progress rather than varied scenery, making it feel consistent from start to finish.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.1 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and US-127. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 99.1 miles in near I 496.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 181.2 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 99.1 miles (I 496): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 100 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Canadian Lakes, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East: Port Huron and M 39.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 181.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.1 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 99.1 miles (I 496): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 100 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Dearborn, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
