Dearborn, MI to Addison, MI is 73.8 miles and takes about 1h 38m via West Michigan Avenue and Detroit Industrial Expressway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Michigan, connecting two points within the state. Given its relatively short duration and modest fuel cost, it's a straightforward trip perfect for a single day. Expect a mixed driving experience, so be prepared for varying road conditions and speeds as you make your way south.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.9 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Michigan Avenue
34.4 mi
50m
Detroit Industrial Expressway
26.5 mi
28m
US-12
5.9 mi
8m
US 127
4.4 mi
6m
Schaefer Road
1.5 mi
2m
West Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Michigan Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
West Michigan Avenue
— 34.4 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Addison, MI.
1
Start on US 12
79 ft·8 sec·Michigan Avenue
2
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
5
Merge onto I 94
16 mi·17 min·Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
10 mi·10 min·Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Exit 181AToward US 12 West: SalineUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 12
34 mi·50 min·West Michigan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 12
5.9 mi·8 min·US-12
10
Turn left onto US 127
0.9 mi·1 min·US 127
11
Enter roundabout onto US 127
29 ft·0 sec·US 127
12
Continue on US 127
3.5 mi·5 min·US 127
13
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Trip Plan
For this shorter drive of just under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning would allow you to avoid rush hour traffic in the Dearborn area and still arrive in Addison with ample daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, you won't need to worry extensively about refueling stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye out for the transition between expressway driving and more local road conditions as you approach your destination.
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 36.9 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 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 16 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.9 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Addison, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dearborn, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dearborn, MI
This is one driving day of about 73.8 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Dearborn, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on West Michigan Avenue for about 34.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28.5 — 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|Schaefer Road
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
5
2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
18.5 mi into trip|~22m in|I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
28.5 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward US 12 West: Saline
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 181A
Toward US 12 West: Saline
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.54 one way
$23.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.67
$25.34
premium
$4.89
$14.20
$28.40
diesel
$5.61
$16.29
$32.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.1
0
$7.75
$3.54
Efficient EV
18.5
0
$6.46
$2.95
EV Truck/SUV
29.5
0
$10.33
$4.72
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Late night
in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 1:39PM EDT until April 20 at 5:00PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 12:39PM CDT until April 22 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Marquette MI
Destination
Addison, MI
Late night
in Addison on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
4 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
1h 38m 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 offers a mixed drive, with about 50% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of the trip on West Michigan Avenue, including a stretch of 34.4 miles without major interruptions. The use of the Detroit Industrial Expressway indicates some faster, more direct travel, likely interspersed with segments on local roads like US-12. This means you'll likely encounter varied traffic patterns and speed limits throughout the 1 hour and 38-minute journey.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.4 mi on West Michigan Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 early in the drive near Schaefer Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 73.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.4 miles on West Michigan Avenue. 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 Addison, 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 (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Addison, MI before heading back.
