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Trip from Dearborn, MI to Algonac, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 14m

Distance

52.9 mi

85 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 8m ★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Wayne County, Michigan, USA

Dearborn, MI

Wikimedia Commons

city in St. Clair County, Michigan

Algonac, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion from Dearborn to Algonac, you are looking at a straightforward 52.9-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. This Midwestern route is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you can easily head out and return without the need for an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, it remains an affordable way to transition from the urban environment of Dearborn to the riverside setting of Algonac. The journey is efficiently structured, allowing you to spend less time behind the wheel and more time at your destination. Whether you are seeking a change of scenery or a quick getaway, the route is practical, predictable, and simple to navigate.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Edsel Ford Freeway 21.1 mi 27m
Ford Freeway 11.8 mi 12m
Dixie Highway 4.7 mi 7m
Pointe Tremble Road 4.3 mi 7m
23 Mile Road 3.8 mi 6m
Dyke Road 2.8 mi 4m
Green Street 1.5 mi 3m
Main Street 0.6 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Edsel Ford Freeway — 21.1 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Algonac, 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

21 mi · 27 min · Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on I 94

12 mi · 12 min · Ford Freeway
6

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 243 Toward M 29: New Baltimore, Algonac Use the slight right lane.
7

Turn right onto M 29

3.8 mi · 6 min · 23 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
8

Continue on M 29

1.5 mi · 3 min · Green Street
9

Continue on M 29

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Main Street
10

Continue on M 29

4.7 mi · 7 min · Dixie Highway
11

Continue on M 29

2.8 mi · 4 min · Dyke Road
12

Continue on M 29

4.3 mi · 7 min · Pointe Tremble Road
13

Continue on M 29

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Saint Clair River Drive
14

Turn left

333 ft · 26 sec
15

Turn right

31 ft · 2 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Milton, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Milton, MI

26 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Harper Woods, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Saint Clair Shores, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.5 miles from Dearborn, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 52.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward I 94 East: Detroit

Navigation decision point

Toward I 94 East: Detroit
3
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway

Merge onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining

8
34.1 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward M 29: New Baltimore, Algonac

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 243 Toward M 29: New Baltimore, Algonac
6
34.7 mi into trip | ~44m in | M 29 / 23 Mile Road

Turn right onto M 29 / 23 Mile Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
52.9 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.27 one way

$16.54 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.08 $18.16
premium $4.89 $10.18 $20.36
diesel $5.61 $11.68 $23.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.9 0 $5.55 $2.54
Efficient EV 13.2 0 $4.63 $2.12
EV Truck/SUV 21.2 0 $7.41 $3.39

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Dearborn, MI

Late night in Dearborn on Sunday

Local time

1:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

WSW 10 to 14 mph 76% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:16AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:54AM EDT until April 23 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Destination

Algonac, MI

Late night in Algonac on Sunday

Local time

1:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

47°F

Milton, MI

26 mi in

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

27 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 14m 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?

This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 63% of the journey spent on major thoroughfares like the Edsel Ford Freeway and the Ford Freeway. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch on the Edsel Ford Freeway, covering 21.1 miles of consistent, high-speed travel. As you transition onto the Dixie Highway, the character of the road shifts, moving away from the intensity of the major freeways toward a more localized driving experience. Expect a mix of fast-paced multi-lane transit and standard highway stretches that define this 1-hour and 14-minute trip. The transition between these road types keeps the drive feeling productive as you move through the Michigan landscape.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.1 mi on Edsel Ford Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Edsel Ford Freeway and Ford Freeway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Dearborn, MI to Algonac, MI is easy. At 1h 14m with 63% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 34.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

641 ft 577 ft

Total Climb

95 ft

Total Descent

106 ft

Highest Point

641 ft

~7.6 mi in

Elevation Range

63 ft

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 Dearborn, MI to Algonac, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 29: New Baltimore along the way.

M 29: New Baltimore

34.1 mi in | ~42m

About the Cities

Starting 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 1h 14m. Total distance: 52.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (63%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 21.1 miles on Edsel Ford Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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: at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 34.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Algonac, 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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