Origin
Clawson, MI
Late night in Clawson on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clawson, MI to Dearborn, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
20.8 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clawson, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Clawson to Dearborn is a quick, straightforward journey covering 20.8 miles within the Midwest. You can expect the drive to take approximately 28 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of just $3, this is an incredibly economical route that requires zero mandatory stops. Since both cities are located within Michigan, you will remain in the same region throughout your transit. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploring, the simplicity of this short drive offers great flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| Edsel Ford Freeway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| East 14 Mile Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Michigan Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 11.7 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clawson, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on South Main Street
33 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto East 14 Mile Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East 14 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 75
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 53B
Toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 94
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 210A
Toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
At end of road, turn right onto US 12
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Michigan Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Arrive at destination
US 12
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 20 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 14 Mile Road
Turn right onto East 14 Mile Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
13.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
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 53B
Toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
8
13.7 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
8
19.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
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 210A
Toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
6
20 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 12 / Michigan Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.25 one way
$6.50 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.57 | $7.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.00 | $8.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.59 | $9.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.18 | $1.00 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.91 | $1.33 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Late night in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 12 mph
29% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 6:12AM EDT until April 19 at 6:30PM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 5:13AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
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
19 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
28m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive as 83% of your journey takes place on major thoroughfares. You will navigate via the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, the Edsel Ford Freeway, and East 14 Mile Road to reach your destination. A significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves an 11.7-mile stretch on the Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. The experience is primarily defined by fast-paced interstate driving rather than winding local roads, keeping the pace consistent from start to finish.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.7 mi on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and Edsel Ford Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 14 Mile Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 20.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 14 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
666 ft
578 ft
Total Climb
85 ft
Total Descent
160 ft
Highest Point
666 ft
Elevation Range
89 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clawson, MI to Dearborn, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
13.5 mi in
|
~16m
About the Cities
Arriving in Dearborn, MI
Full guide →Dearborn is a city in Wayne County in the state of Michigan. This article also covers the adjacent community of Dearborn Heights.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 20.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.7 miles on Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 14 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dearborn, MI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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