Dearborn, MI to Akron, MI is 109.7 miles and takes about 2h 25m via North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Michigan, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip that's easy to accomplish in a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick journey without requiring an overnight stay. The route offers a mixed driving experience, so you won't be stuck on one type of road for the entire trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.9 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
37.5 mi
40m
South State Road
20.3 mi
29m
Ortonville Road
9.7 mi
14m
South Vassar Road
8 mi
10m
North State Road
7.6 mi
10m
State Road
5.7 mi
7m
Edsel Ford Freeway
5.6 mi
7m
Merry Road
3.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 37.5 mi, about 40m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 33 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,143 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,357
Quietest
2 AM
~281 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Akron, MI.
1
Start on US 12
0.6 mi·1 min·Michigan Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
3
Merge onto I 94
0.3 mi·23 sec·Detroit Industrial Expressway
4
Continue on I 94
5.6 mi·7 min·Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
302 ft·5 sec
Exit 216AToward I 75: Flint, ToledoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 North: FlintUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 75
38 mi·40 min·North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 91Toward M 15: Clarkston, DavisonUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto M 15
9.7 mi·14 min·Ortonville Road
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on M 15
20 mi·29 min·South State Road
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on M 15
0.5 mi·45 sec·South State Street
12
Continue on M 15
7.6 mi·10 min·North State Road
13
Continue on M 15
1.0 mi·1 min·State Street
14
Continue on M 15
5.7 mi·7 min·State Road
15
Continue on M 15
0.6 mi·55 sec·Goodrich Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto M 15
0.9 mi·1 min·East Huron Avenue
17
Continue on M 15
0.5 mi·46 sec·West Saginaw Road
18
Turn right onto Cottrell Drive
1.1 mi·1 min·Cottrell Drive
19
At end of road, turn right onto Waterman Road
1.2 mi·1 min·Waterman Road
20
Keep slight left at fork onto South Vassar Road
8.0 mi·10 min·South Vassar Road
21
Turn right onto Deckerville Road
3.5 mi·4 min·Deckerville Road
22
Turn left onto Merry Road
3.5 mi·4 min·Merry Road
23
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
24
At end of road, turn right onto M 138
69 ft·6 sec·Beach Street
25
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·Main Street
26
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 25 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in one day. You could plan to leave Dearborn in the morning and arrive in Akron with plenty of time to spare. With a fuel cost estimated around $17, it's an economical choice. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 37.5 miles, so consider grabbing any necessary snacks or drinks before you start that segment to ensure comfort. Since it's a single-day drive, you have flexibility on departure time to suit your schedule.
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 54.9 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.5 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.9 miles or 1h 6m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Akron, 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.
+
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 Dearborn, MI
This is one driving day of about 109.7 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Dearborn, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway for about 37.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 45.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
6.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 75: Flint, Toledo
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 216A
Toward I 75: Flint, Toledo
7
6.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 North: Flint
5
7.3 mi into trip|~11m in|I 75 / North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Merge onto I 75 / North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
44.8 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward M 15: Clarkston, Davison
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 91
Toward M 15: Clarkston, Davison
6
45.2 mi into trip|~52m in|M 15 / Ortonville Road
Turn right onto M 15 / Ortonville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.24 one way
$36.48 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$19.87
$39.73
premium
$5.18
$22.38
$44.77
diesel
$5.35
$23.11
$46.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.9
0
$11.52
$5.27
Efficient EV
27.4
0
$9.60
$4.39
EV Truck/SUV
43.9
0
$15.36
$7.02
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 May 17, 2026
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Afternoon
in Dearborn on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 2 to 10 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Akron, MI
Afternoon
in Akron on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 3 to 12 mph28% chanceLive forecast
62°F
Ortonville, MI
55 mi in
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
8 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
2h 25m 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 a mixed drive, meaning you'll encounter different road types as you travel. With 40% of the drive on highways, expect some faster stretches, balanced by time on local roads like South State Road and Ortonville Road. The longest uninterrupted drive is 37.5 miles along the North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, offering a good period of consistent speed. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift, moving from potentially busier freeway conditions to more varied, local road segments.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.5 mi on North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 around 6.8 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 109.7 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 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (I 75 / North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,114 ft591 ft
Total Climb
563 ft
Total Descent
514 ft
Highest Point
1,114 ft
~47 mi in
Elevation Range
522 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dearborn, MI and Akron, MI, road signs point toward Toledo, M 15: Clarkston and Davison.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 109.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.5 miles on North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Akron, 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. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (I 75 / North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): 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 Akron, MI before heading back.
