Origin
Dearborn, MI
Late night in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dearborn, MI to South Lyon, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
34.3 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
South Lyon, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 34.3-mile trip from Dearborn to South Lyon, Michigan, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 49 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate via the Jeffries Freeway (Local) and M-14, with a segment on West 8 Mile Road. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $5, this drive offers a practical and efficient way to travel within the Midwest. It's a short enough journey that you won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of highway and local road experiences.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jeffries Freeway (Local) | 10.6 mi | 11m |
| M 14 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| West 8 Mile Road | 4 mi | 5m |
| Beck Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| 8 Mile Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| Southfield Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Ford Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Pontiac Trail | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Jeffries Freeway (Local)
— 10.6 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and South Lyon, 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
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 11A
Toward I 96: Downtown Detroit, Lansing
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 96
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Jeffries Freeway (Local)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on M 14
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
M 14
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 18
Toward Beck Road
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto Beck Road
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Beck Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto West 8 Mile Road
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West 8 Mile Road
Use the left lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto 8 Mile Road
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
8 Mile Road
17
Continue on 8 Mile Road
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
8 Mile Road
18
Turn right onto Pontiac Trail
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Pontiac Trail
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on South Lafayette Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lafayette Street
20
Turn left onto West Lake Street
29 ft
·
0 sec
·
West Lake Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
West Lake Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.1 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 25.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 96: Downtown Detroit, Lansing
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 11A
Toward I 96: Downtown Detroit, Lansing
7
5.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
7
21.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward Beck Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 18
Toward Beck Road
6
21.6 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Beck Road
Turn right onto Beck Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
25.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
West 8 Mile Road
Turn left onto West 8 Mile Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.36 one way
$10.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.89 | $11.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.60 | $13.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.57 | $15.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
South Lyon, MI
Late night in South Lyon on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Plymouth, MI
17 mi in
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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
49m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with about 39% of the journey on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 10.6 miles on the Jeffries Freeway (Local), offering a period of consistent travel. As you transition between the Jeffries Freeway (Local), M-14, and West 8 Mile Road, the character of the drive will evolve. This isn't a purely monotonous interstate grind; you'll likely experience a change in pace and scenery as you move from faster freeway sections to more varied local road conditions.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.6 mi on Jeffries Freeway (Local).
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 34.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 South Lyon, MI, road signs point toward M 39 North and Lansing.
M 39 North
2.9 mi in
|
~6m
Lansing
5.8 mi in
|
~10m
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 49m. Total distance: 34.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.6 miles on Jeffries Freeway (Local). 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 South Lyon, 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: at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.2 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 South Lyon, 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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