Origin
Dearborn, MI
Late night in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dearborn, MI to South Monroe, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
35 mi
56 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 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
South Monroe, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Dearborn to South Monroe, expect a straightforward 35-mile journey that typically takes about 46 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the short duration means you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $5 for fuel should comfortably cover your transit through the Midwest. Because the entire drive remains within Michigan, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. It is a highly practical connection for those looking to reach their destination without a significant time investment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Toledo Expressway | 16.6 mi | 17m |
| Fisher Freeway | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| North Monroe Street | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Highway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Nadeau Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Dixie Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Detroit-Toledo Expressway
— 16.6 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and South Monroe, 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
17 mi
·
17 min
·
Detroit-Toledo Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 18
Toward Nadeau Road
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto Nadeau Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Nadeau Road
9
At end of road, turn left onto M 125
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
North Monroe Street
10
Continue on M 125
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dixie Highway
11
Turn right
201 ft
·
8 sec
12
Turn straight
456 ft
·
23 sec
13
Turn left
266 ft
·
11 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.5 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 29.5 — 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.
4
3.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Toledo
Navigation decision point
Toward I 75 South: Toledo
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
28 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward Nadeau Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 18
Toward Nadeau Road
5
29.5 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
M 125 / North Monroe Street
At end of road, turn left onto M 125 / North Monroe Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.47 one way
$10.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.01 | $12.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.74 | $13.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.73 | $15.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 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 | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.06 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
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 Monroe, MI
Late night in South Monroe on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Trenton, MI
18 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
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
46m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate via Schaefer Road and Schaefer Highway before transitioning to I-75 South, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. The absence of long, uninterrupted stretches means the experience is defined by local turns and changing road conditions. Because the drive is short, you won't face the monotony of a long-haul interstate grind, but you should be prepared for more frequent adjustments in your driving pace. It is a functional, navigational experience that demands a bit more engagement than a standard highway trek.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.6 mi on Detroit-Toledo Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Detroit-Toledo Expressway and Fisher Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Schaefer Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 46m. Total distance: 35 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.6 miles on Detroit-Toledo Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Monroe, 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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