If you are planning a trip from Dearborn to Belmont, expect a straightforward journey covering approximately 159.3 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 3 hours and 1 minute, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting around $24 for fuel will cover your transit across Michigan’s Midwest landscape. Since the route is entirely contained within the state, you won't need to worry about crossing regional boundaries or adjusting for time zones. Whether you are heading out for work or a quick getaway, this efficient drive offers a reliable connection between these two points.
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
79.7 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
125.6 mi
2h 14m
Southfield Freeway
8.5 mi
11m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.2 mi
8m
East Beltline Avenue Northeast
5.7 mi
8m
John C Lodge Freeway
3.9 mi
4m
Ford Road
2 mi
3m
Plainfield Avenue Northeast
0.9 mi
1m
Coit Avenue Northeast
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 125.6 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Belmont, 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
53 mi·56 min·I 96
Toward I 96 West: Grand Rapids
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 38Toward M 44, M 37 South: East Beltline AvenueUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto M 44
5.7 mi·8 min·East Beltline Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto Plainfield Avenue Northeast
0.9 mi·1 min·Plainfield Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Coit Avenue Northeast
0.8 mi·1 min·Coit Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto Jupiter Avenue Northeast
0.7 mi·1 min·Jupiter Avenue Northeast
21
Turn right onto Belmont Avenue Northeast
0.6 mi·56 sec·Belmont Avenue Northeast
22
Turn right onto Lynhurst Street Northeast
27 ft·1 sec·Lynhurst Street Northeast
23
Arrive at destination
Lynhurst Street Northeast
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one stop to break up the three-hour duration and stay refreshed. Because the majority of your travel occurs on I-96, keep an eye on real-time traffic reports for the metropolitan areas near your origin to avoid potential bottlenecks during rush hour. Since the fuel cost is estimated at $24, topping off your tank before leaving Dearborn ensures you won't need to hunt for gas stations during the longest 125.6-mile stretch of the highway. Leveraging the flexibility of this shorter trip allows you to depart at your convenience, though leaving mid-morning often helps you bypass the heaviest commute traffic.
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 79.7 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.6 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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.7 miles or 1h 32m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belmont, 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 159.3 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 125.6 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 150.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Schaefer Road
Turn left onto Schaefer Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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.
8
150.2 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward M 44, M 37 South: East Beltline Avenue
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 38
Toward M 44, M 37 South: East Beltline Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.90 one way
$49.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.34
$54.69
premium
$4.89
$30.66
$61.31
diesel
$5.61
$35.17
$70.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.8
0
$16.73
$7.65
Efficient EV
39.8
0
$13.94
$6.37
EV Truck/SUV
63.7
0
$22.30
$10.20
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 15, 2026
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Late night
in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Belmont, MI
Late night
in Belmont on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
15 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
3h 1m 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 quintessential highway-focused drive, with 92% of your time spent cruising on major thoroughfares. You will start by navigating local infrastructure like the Southfield Freeway and the Walter P. Reuther Freeway before transitioning onto the primary artery of the journey, I-96. The road maintains a consistent pace, highlighted by a significant 125.6-mile stretch on I-96 that allows you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel. Expect a predictable experience that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads, keeping you on high-speed pavement for the vast majority of your travel time.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.6 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Southfield 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 Schaefer Road.
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 18 significant decision points across 159.3 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: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
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 Belmont, MI, road signs point toward M 10 North: Lansing and M 44.
M 10 North: Lansing
11.5 mi in|~18m
M 44
150.2 mi in|~2h 47m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 159.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m 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 125.6 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 Belmont, 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: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Belmont, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
