Dearborn to Secord is 164 miles and takes about 3 hours 8 minutes via I-75 and M-61, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, taking you from the Midwest's more urban areas into a less populated region. With 87% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward trip focused on getting you to your destination efficiently. This route is best suited for a single-day drive, perfect for a quick getaway or an easy visit.
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
82 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
79 mi
1h 22m
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
57.6 mi
1h 1m
M-61
16.9 mi
24m
Edsel Ford Freeway
5.6 mi
7m
Lakeshore Drive
2.7 mi
6m
Michigan Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Detroit Industrial Expressway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 79 mi, about 1h 22m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 118 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,496 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,726
Quietest
2 AM
~206 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Secord, 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
52 mi·56 min·I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
27 mi·26 min·I 75; US 23
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward M 61: Standish, Gladwin
11
Turn left onto M 61
17 mi·24 min·M-61
12
Turn right onto Lakeshore Drive
2.7 mi·6 min·Lakeshore Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Lakeshore Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, leaving Dearborn in the morning allows ample time to reach Secord well before evening. The single planned stop suggests a brief break; consider timing it around the 79-mile mark on I-75. The fuel cost estimate of $26 is based on the 164-mile distance, so keep an eye on your gauge, especially as you transition to M-61. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart later or make an impromptu stop if needed.
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 82 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 36 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82 miles or 1h 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 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Secord, 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 164 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 I 75 for about 79 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 143.9 — 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
143.9 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward M 61: Standish, Gladwin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward M 61: Standish, Gladwin
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.57 one way
$59.13 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.21
$33.67
$67.33
premium
$5.82
$37.56
$75.12
diesel
$6.48
$41.82
$83.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.2
0
$17.22
$7.87
Efficient EV
41
0
$14.35
$6.56
EV Truck/SUV
65.6
0
$22.96
$10.50
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Forecast as of Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Morning
in Dearborn on Saturday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy then Light Rain Likely
NW 13 to 16 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 4:54AM EDT until October 16 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Secord, MI
Morning
in Secord on Saturday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 10 to 15 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 4:54AM EDT until October 16 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
45°F
Atlas, MI
82 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
5 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 8m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 87% of the 164 miles spent on freeways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous highway driving for 79 miles on I-75. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination on M-61, signaling a shift from high-speed cruising to a more local pace. Expect a lot of exits and merges as you navigate the freeway portions.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. 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 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 10 significant decision points across 164 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
Mostly flat terrain
1,047 ft588 ft
Total Climb
630 ft
Total Descent
486 ft
Highest Point
1,047 ft
~46.8 mi in
Elevation Range
459 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 Secord, MI, road signs point toward M 61: Standish and Gladwin.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 164 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m 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 79 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 Secord, 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 14 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Secord, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
