Dearborn to Lake Isabella is 167.2 miles and takes about 3h 13m via US 127 and I-96, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Michigan, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With 87% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time on faster roads. This is a straightforward, one-day trip if you're looking for a direct route with minimal complexity.
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
83.6 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 127
64 mi
1h 6m
I 96
56.8 mi
1h
East Remus Road
9 mi
12m
Southfield Freeway
8.5 mi
11m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.2 mi
8m
John C Lodge Freeway
3.9 mi
4m
South Coldwater Road
3.3 mi
4m
Ransom E Olds Freeway
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 127
— 64 mi, about 1h 6m
Traffic on I-96
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,672 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,292
Quietest
2 AM
~164 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Lake Isabella, 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
39 mi·41 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 106BToward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
16
Merge onto I 496; US 127
2.8 mi·3 min·Ransom E Olds Freeway
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 127
64 mi·1 hr 6 min·US 127
Exit 8Toward US 127 North: Clare
18
Take the exit onto BUS US 127
1.9 mi·2 min·Business US-127
Toward US 127 Business: Mount Pleasant
19
Continue on BUS US 127
0.7 mi·1 min·South Mission Street
20
Turn left onto East Broomfield Street
1.5 mi·2 min·East Broomfield Street
21
Continue on East Broomfield Road
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Broomfield Road
22
Turn right onto South Lincoln Road
1.0 mi·1 min·South Lincoln Road
23
Turn left onto M 20
9.0 mi·12 min·East Remus Road
24
Turn right onto South Coldwater Road
3.3 mi·4 min·South Coldwater Road
25
Turn left onto North Clubhouse Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·North Clubhouse Drive
26
Arrive at destination
North Clubhouse Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 13m estimated drive time, leaving Dearborn in the morning allows ample time to reach Lake Isabella well before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before the longest stretch of 64 miles on US 127, as the $26 fuel cost estimate suggests a moderately priced trip. This route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, so you can depart when convenient and enjoy a relatively uninterrupted drive.
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 83.6 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64 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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.6 miles or 1h 37m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Isabella, 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 167.2 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 US 127 for about 64 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 11.5 and 84.9 — 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.
6
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
6
84.9 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|US 127
Keep slight right at fork onto US 127 toward US 127 North: Clare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 8
Toward US 127 North: Clare
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.69 one way
$49.38 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$27.26
$54.52
premium
$4.72
$31.04
$62.09
diesel
$4.80
$31.57
$63.14
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: 58.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.2
0
$17.56
$8.03
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.63
$6.69
EV Truck/SUV
66.9
0
$23.41
$10.70
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Morning
in Dearborn on Monday
Local time
6:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Smoke
N 6 to 13 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:59PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:37PM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Destination
Lake Isabella, MI
Morning
in Lake Isabella on Monday
Local time
6:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Areas Of Smoke
NNW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:59PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:37PM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
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
8 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 13m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll encounter 87% highway driving on this route, meaning you'll spend the majority of your time on faster-paced roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 64 miles on US 127. After this, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. Expect a consistent cruising experience with a relatively low number of exits for a significant portion of the drive.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64 mi on US 127.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 127 and I 96. 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 18 significant decision points across 167.2 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
999 ft591 ft
Total Climb
613 ft
Total Descent
295 ft
Highest Point
999 ft
~47.8 mi in
Elevation Range
408 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 Lake Isabella, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 10 North: Lansing along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 167.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64 miles on US 127. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Lake Isabella, 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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Lake Isabella, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
