If you are planning a trip from Dearborn to Beechwood, expect a straightforward 178.3-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 23 minutes. Since this route is entirely within Michigan, you will remain in the Midwest, moving from the Detroit metro area toward the western side of the state. It is a highly efficient drive that works perfectly as a one-day trip, meaning you likely won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With a total fuel cost estimated at around $27, it remains an affordable option for a quick getaway. Because 92% of your travel occurs on highways, you should prepare for a consistent, high-speed pace throughout the day.
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
89.2 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
117.2 mi
2h 5m
Paul B. Henry Freeway
18.3 mi
19m
Southfield Freeway
8.5 mi
11m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.2 mi
8m
Gerald R Ford Freeway
8.2 mi
8m
Byron Road
3.9 mi
5m
John C Lodge Freeway
3.9 mi
4m
East Lakewood Boulevard
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 117.2 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Beechwood, MI.
1
Start on US 12
79 ft·6 sec·Michigan Avenue
2
Turn left onto Schaefer Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Schaefer Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto M 153
521 ft·11 sec·Ford Road
4
Continue on M 153
1.9 mi·3 min·Ford Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right
0.4 mi·1 min
6
Turn straight onto North M 39 Service Drive
351 ft·7 sec·North M 39 Service Drive
7
Take the ramp
478 ft·11 sec
Toward M 39 North
8
Merge onto M 39
8.5 mi·11 min·Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 16Toward M 10 North: LansingUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto M 10
3.9 mi·4 min·John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 18CToward I 696 West: LansingUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 696
8.2 mi·8 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 96
18 mi·19 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
55 mi·58 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
45 mi·47 min·I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
16
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 46Toward M 6 West: HollandUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on M 6
18 mi·19 min·Paul B. Henry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 196 West: HollandUse the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 196
8.2 mi·8 min·Gerald R Ford Freeway
20
Take the exit onto I 196 BL
0.3 mi·39 sec·I 196 BL
Exit 55Toward BL I 196: Zeeland, Holland
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 196 BL
264 ft·7 sec·I 196 BL
22
Turn right onto I 196 BL
3.9 mi·5 min·Byron Road
23
Turn right onto 112th Avenue
505 ft·19 sec·112th Avenue
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto East Lakewood Boulevard
2.6 mi·4 min·East Lakewood Boulevard
25
Continue on Howard Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·Howard Avenue
26
Continue on Douglas Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Douglas Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn left
214 ft·15 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 23-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the route is manageable in a single day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best, though avoiding peak traffic hours on the Southfield Freeway is always a smart move. Keep your fuel budget of $27 in mind, as gas prices can fluctuate once you move away from the Detroit area. Given the high percentage of highway driving, ensure your tire pressure and fluid levels are checked before you pull out of Dearborn. Because the longest stretch is over 117 miles, try to time your break near the midpoint of that segment to keep your focus sharp.
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 89.2 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.2 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 39 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.2 miles or 1h 42m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beechwood, 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 178.3 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Dearborn, 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 117.2 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.5 and 161 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
11.5 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward M 10 North: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16
Toward M 10 North: Lansing
7
15.9 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I 696 West: Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 18C
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
6
42.5 mi into trip|~52m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
141.8 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward M 6 West: Holland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward M 6 West: Holland
7
161 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 196 West: Holland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 196 West: Holland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.88 one way
$55.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.61
$61.21
premium
$4.89
$34.31
$68.62
diesel
$5.61
$39.37
$78.73
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: 62.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.5
0
$18.72
$8.56
Efficient EV
44.6
0
$15.60
$7.13
EV Truck/SUV
71.3
0
$24.96
$11.41
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Late night
in Dearborn on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Beechwood, MI
Late night
in Beechwood on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
13 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 23m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 trip is a highway-focused drive that relies heavily on the I-96 corridor, supplemented by the Southfield Freeway and the Paul B. Henry Freeway. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the road, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 117.2 miles on I-96. The experience is defined by steady interstate travel rather than technical turns or winding backroads. While the majority of the journey keeps you at highway speeds, the transition between these major arteries keeps the drive moving efficiently. Expect a predictable, utilitarian road environment that prioritizes speed and directness over scenic detours.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.2 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Paul B. Henry Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 178.3 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 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
939 ft591 ft
Total Climb
397 ft
Total Descent
383 ft
Highest Point
939 ft
~50.9 mi in
Elevation Range
348 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 Beechwood, MI, road signs point toward M 10 North: Lansing and M 6 West: Holland.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 178.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 117.2 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 Beechwood, 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 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (I 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Beechwood, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
