Dearborn, MI to Leland, MI is 277.9 miles and takes about 5h 35m via North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and US 10, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Michigan from southeast to northwest. With 62% of the route on highways, you'll experience a good mix of faster travel and more local roads as you make your way north. It's a manageable one-day drive, but you might consider a brief stop to break up the 5+ hours of driving time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
138.9 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
57.6 mi
1h 1m
US 10
56.9 mi
56m
Cadillac Drive
55.3 mi
1h 16m
I 75
51.3 mi
54m
County Road 633
10.9 mi
17m
North M-37 Highway
6.9 mi
9m
South Good Harbor Trail
6.5 mi
8m
South Manitou Trail
5.8 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 57.6 mi, about 1h 1m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 110 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,836 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,103
Quietest
2 AM
~229 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Leland, MI.
1
Start on US 12
0.6 mi·1 min·Michigan Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
3
Merge onto I 94
0.3 mi·23 sec·Detroit Industrial Expressway
4
Continue on I 94
5.6 mi·7 min·Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
302 ft·5 sec
Exit 216AToward I 75: Flint, ToledoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 North: FlintUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 75
58 mi·1 hr 1 min·North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
51 mi·54 min·I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 162BToward US 10 West: Midland
10
Continue on US 10
11 mi·11 min·US 10
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
38 mi·38 min·US 10
Toward US 10: Clare
12
Take the exit onto US 10
7.6 mi·7 min·US 10
Toward US 10 WEST, TO M 115: Ludington, Cadillac
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward M 115: Cadillac
14
Turn right onto M 115
55 mi·1 hr 16 min·Cadillac Drive
15
Enter roundabout onto M 37
26 ft·0 sec·North M-37 Highway
16
Continue on M 37
6.9 mi·9 min·North M-37 Highway
17
Turn left onto North 13 Road
0.7 mi·1 min·North 13 Road
18
Continue on CR 633
11 mi·17 min·County Road 633
19
Continue on CR 633
3.7 mi·5 min·South West Silver Lake Road
20
Turn left onto Secor Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Secor Road
21
Turn right onto East Long Lake Road
2.1 mi·2 min·East Long Lake Road
22
At end of road, turn left onto CR 610
0.1 mi·12 sec·North Long Lake Road
23
Turn right onto Strait Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Strait Road
24
At end of road, turn left onto Cedar Run Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Cedar Run Road
25
Turn right onto Tilton Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Tilton Road
26
At end of road, turn left onto M 72
1.0 mi·1 min·East Traverse Highway
27
Turn right onto CR 651
5.3 mi·8 min·South Cedar Road
28
Continue on CR 651
0.4 mi·39 sec·Kasson Street
29
Continue on CR 651
6.5 mi·8 min·South Good Harbor Trail
30
At end of road, turn right onto M 22
5.8 mi·8 min·South Manitou Trail
31
Continue on M 22
0.4 mi·53 sec·South Main Street
32
Turn right onto River Street
80 ft·3 sec·River Street
33
Arrive at destination
River Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 35m drive, aim for an early start from Dearborn, MI, ideally before 9 AM, to avoid heavier traffic. The route is estimated to cost around $44 for fuel, so ensure your tank is full before departing. While it's a single-day trip, the longest stretch without a significant stop is nearly an hour, so plan for at least one break. Consider stopping around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your GPS as you approach Leland, MI, as the route transitions from highways to more local roads.
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 138.9 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.6 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 61 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.9 miles or 2h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leland, 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 277.9 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway for about 57.6 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 116.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
6.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 75: Flint, Toledo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216A
Toward I 75: Flint, Toledo
7
6.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 North: Flint
5
7.3 mi into trip|~11m in|I 75 / North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Merge onto I 75 / North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
64.9 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75: Saginaw
5
116.1 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 10 West: Midland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 162B
Toward US 10 West: Midland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.36 one way
$92.71 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$50.58
$101.16
premium
$5.25
$57.47
$114.95
diesel
$6.28
$68.67
$137.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.4
1
$29.18
$13.34
Efficient EV
69.5
0
$24.32
$11.12
EV Truck/SUV
111.2
1
$38.91
$17.79
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Night
in Dearborn on Thursday
Local time
10:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Sunny
NNE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 22 at 10:01AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Destination
Leland, MI
Night
in Leland on Thursday
Local time
10:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 22 at 10:01AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
42°F
Edenville, MI
139 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
12 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
5h 35m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacula...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
$25
near mile 268.3
Park Closure: Empire Hill Climb: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Park Closure: Ironman Triathlon: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 62% of the 277.9 miles on higher-speed roads like the North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. Your longest continuous stretch on a highway will be about 57.6 miles on the North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. As you transition from highways to roads like US 10, expect a shift from faster cruising to more frequent exits and local traffic. This means you'll notice a change in the pace of driving and the surrounding scenery.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.6 mi on North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 277.9 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 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (I 75 / North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,376 ft591 ft
Total Climb
1,214 ft
Total Descent
1,208 ft
Highest Point
1,376 ft
~218.3 mi in
Elevation Range
785 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 Leland, MI, road signs point toward To M 115: Ludington, Cadillac and M 115: Cadillac.
Leland is a village in Leelanau County, Michigan (also known as the Leelanau Peninsula on the shore of Lake Michigan. Leland is the site of the oldest and largest Ottawa village on the Leelanau Peninsula named Mishi-me-go-bing, "the place where canoes run up into the river to land, because they have no harbor". European settlement began when the Antoine Manseau family came from North Manitou Island in 1853.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 35m. Total distance: 277.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.6 miles on North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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 Leland, 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 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (I 75 / North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Leland, MI before the return drive.
