Origin
Dearborn, MI
Late night in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
3:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dearborn, MI to Howell, 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 5m
Distance
52.7 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Howell, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Dearborn to Howell, you can expect a straightforward journey spanning 52.7 miles. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You will spend the vast majority of your time navigating major thoroughfares, including the Southfield Freeway, the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, and I-96. With an estimated fuel cost of just $8, this route is highly economical for travelers moving through the Michigan Midwest. Because the duration is quite short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless your schedule requires it. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Midwestern locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 26.9 mi | 28m |
| Southfield Freeway | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 8.2 mi | 8m |
| John C Lodge Freeway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Ford Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Michigan Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Schaefer Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Pinckney Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 26.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Howell, 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 16
Toward M 10 North: Lansing
Use 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 18C
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
Use 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
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 96
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 137
Toward CR D19: Howell, Pinckney
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto D-19
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Pinckney Road
17
Continue on South Michigan Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Michigan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
North Michigan Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.3 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.4 — 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.
5
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
M 39 / Southfield Freeway
Merge onto M 39 / Southfield Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
8
51.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward CR D19: Howell, Pinckney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 137
Toward CR D19: Howell, Pinckney
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.24 one way
$16.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.05 | $18.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.14 | $20.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.64 | $23.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Howell, MI
Late night in Howell on Sunday
Local time
3:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 90% of your time spent cruising on high-speed roads. You should prepare for an interstate-heavy experience that prioritizes efficiency over scenic winding paths. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-96, where you will cover 26.9 miles without needing to navigate secondary roads. While the path starts with city-adjacent freeways like the Southfield and Reuther, it quickly transitions into a steady, consistent highway pace. Expect a reliable, predictable ride that is best suited for those looking to reach their destination quickly rather than taking a leisurely detour.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.9 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 Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.7 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (M 39 / Southfield Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: 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.
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 Howell, MI, road signs point toward M 39 North and M 10 North: Lansing.
M 39 North
2.9 mi in
|
~6m
M 10 North: Lansing
11.5 mi in
|
~18m
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 5m. Total distance: 52.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.9 miles on I 96. 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 Howell, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (M 39 / Southfield Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: 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 Howell, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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