Dearborn, MI to Fawn River, MI is 142 miles and takes about 2 hours 56 minutes via Detroit Industrial Expressway and M 60, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, moving you from the Midwest's urban edge into more rural landscapes. Expect a mixed drive that balances highway speeds with local road navigation. With just one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward journey without extensive planning.
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
71 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Detroit Industrial Expressway
71.6 mi
1h 16m
M 60
32.3 mi
44m
I 69
11.4 mi
12m
Chicago Road
9.3 mi
11m
West Chicago Road
8.5 mi
10m
East Chicago Street
4.3 mi
9m
Schaefer Road
1.5 mi
2m
County Farm Road
1.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Detroit Industrial Expressway
— 71.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Fawn River, 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
55 mi·59 min·Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto M 60
32 mi·44 min·M 60
Toward M 60, I 94 Business: Spring Arbor, Jackson
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 69 South: Fort Wayne
9
Merge onto I 69
11 mi·12 min·I 69
10
Take the exit onto I 69 BL
0.4 mi·57 sec·I 69 BL
Exit 13Toward I 69 Business, US 12: Quincy, Coldwater
11
Turn right onto US 12; I 69 BL
2.8 mi·6 min·East Chicago Street
12
Continue on US 12
0.1 mi·13 sec·West Chicago Street
13
Continue on US 12
9.3 mi·11 min·Chicago Road
14
Continue on US 12
1.5 mi·3 min·East Chicago Street
15
Continue on US 12
8.5 mi·10 min·West Chicago Road
16
Turn left onto County Farm Road
1.1 mi·4 min·County Farm Road
17
Turn right onto East Fawn River Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Fawn River Road
18
Continue on East Fawn River Road
434 ft·11 sec·East Fawn River Road
19
Arrive at destination
East Fawn River Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 56 minute duration, leaving Dearborn in the morning allows ample time to reach Fawn River well before evening. You'll want to plan for one stop along the way; consider making it around the halfway point to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the $22 estimated cost suggests a focus on efficiency, and services might be more spaced out on the latter half of the route. The longest stretch on the Detroit Industrial Expressway is over 70 miles, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.6 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 31 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71 miles or 1h 18m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fawn River, 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 142 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 Detroit Industrial Expressway for about 71.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117.6 — 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
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.
6
105.9 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Fort Wayne
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 69 South: Fort Wayne
6
117.6 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 69 BL
Take the exit onto I 69 BL toward I 69 Business, US 12: Quincy, Coldwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13
Toward I 69 Business, US 12: Quincy, Coldwater
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.20 one way
$44.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.37
$48.75
premium
$4.89
$27.33
$54.65
diesel
$5.61
$31.35
$62.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.6
0
$14.91
$6.82
Efficient EV
35.5
0
$12.42
$5.68
EV Truck/SUV
56.8
0
$19.88
$9.09
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Morning
in Dearborn on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fawn River, MI
Morning
in Fawn River on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Jackson, MI
71 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
18 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
2h 56m 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 drive offers a mixed character, with 59% of the journey on highways. You'll begin on the Detroit Industrial Expressway, experiencing a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 71.6 miles. As you progress, the route transitions to M 60 and I 69, offering a blend of faster travel and potentially more varied road conditions. The overall feel is a practical progression from more developed areas to the less congested roads leading to Fawn River.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.6 mi on Detroit Industrial Expressway.
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 is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 142 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 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 18.5 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Fawn River, MI, road signs point toward M 60, Jackson and Coldwater.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 142 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.6 miles on Detroit Industrial Expressway. 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 Fawn River, 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 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 18.5 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fawn River, MI before heading back.
