Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Dearborn, MI to Morenci, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 57m
Distance
90 mi
145 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 49m
★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Morenci, MI
Veronika Andrews
Trip Overview
The drive from Dearborn, MI to Morenci, MI covers 90 miles and takes about 1h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Detroit-Toledo Expressway, West Central Avenue, Fisher Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.4 miles on Detroit-Toledo Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Toledo Expressway | 41.4 mi | 45m |
| West Central Avenue | 17.6 mi | 25m |
| Fisher Freeway | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| SR 120 | 7.3 mi | 12m |
| I 475 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| SR 109 | 2 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Highway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Detroit-Toledo Expressway
— 41.4 mi, about 45m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,064 veh/hr typical · worst 3,770
Quietest
2 AM
~365 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Morenci, MI.
1
Start on US 12
79 ft
·
8 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
2
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
3
Turn straight onto Schaefer Highway
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Schaefer Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 75 South: Toledo
5
Merge onto I 75
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Fisher Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 75
41 mi
·
45 min
·
Detroit-Toledo Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 204
Toward I 475 West: Sylvania
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 475
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 475
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13
Toward US 20, SR 120: Central Avenue
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 13
Toward US 20, SR 120: Central Avenue
11
Turn straight onto US 20; SR 120
18 mi
·
25 min
·
West Central Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto SR 109
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
SR 109
13
Turn left onto SR 120
7.3 mi
·
12 min
·
SR 120
14
Continue on Morenci Road
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Morenci Road
15
Continue on East Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.4 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morenci, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dearborn, MI
This is one driving day of about 90 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Dearborn, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Detroit-Toledo Expressway for about 41.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Monroe Welcome Center 823
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 60.7 — 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
3.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 75 / Fisher Freeway
Merge onto I 75 / Fisher Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
52.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 475 West: Sylvania
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 204
Toward I 475 West: Sylvania
6
60.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 20, SR 120: Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13
Toward US 20, SR 120: Central Avenue
7
60.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 20, SR 120: Central Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13
Toward US 20, SR 120: Central Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.95 one way
$27.91 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $15.30 | $30.60 |
| premium | $4.93 | $17.46 | $34.92 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $19.84 | $39.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27 | 0 | $9.45 | $4.32 |
| Efficient EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.88 | $3.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36 | 0 | $12.60 | $5.76 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (65% 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.
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Afternoon in Dearborn on Friday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog
SW 2 mph
34% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Morenci, MI
Afternoon in Morenci on Friday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Areas Of Fog
S 2 mph
26% chance
Live forecast
63°F
Oregon, OH
45 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
1 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 57m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
90 mi in 1h 57m, mostly highway — 41.4 mi of that is on Detroit-Toledo Expressway.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.4 mi on Detroit-Toledo Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Detroit-Toledo Expressway and West Central Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Schaefer Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
775 ft
574 ft
Total Climb
232 ft
Total Descent
59 ft
Highest Point
775 ft
~83.6 mi in
Elevation Range
201 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Dearborn, MI
Full guide →Founded 1786
Dearborn is a city in Wayne County in the state of Michigan. This article also covers the adjacent community of Dearborn Heights.
Top landmarks
- • The Henry Ford — museum of history in Dearborn, Michigan, United States
- • Ford River Rouge Complex — industrial park in Dearborn, Michigan, United States
- • Fair Lane — Henry Ford's estate in Dearborn, Michigan
Arriving in Morenci, MI
Full guide →Founded 1833
Top landmarks
- • Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge — bridge in Morenci, Michigan
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 57m. Total distance: 90 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.4 miles on Detroit-Toledo Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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.
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 3.7 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Morenci, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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