This 176.6-mile drive from Dearborn, MI to Union, MI is a straightforward one-day trip, taking about 3 hours and 18 minutes. With 94% of the route on highways, it's a focused drive that should fit comfortably into your schedule. You can expect a fuel cost of around $28 for this journey. Given its manageable length and highway-focused profile, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region of the US.
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
88.3 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Detroit Industrial Expressway
134.3 mi
2h 23m
US-131
25.8 mi
29m
US-12
6.1 mi
8m
Riverside Drive
4.6 mi
6m
Constantine Bypass
3.1 mi
4m
Schaefer Road
1.5 mi
2m
West Chicago Road
0.5 mi
<1m
Michigan Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Detroit Industrial Expressway
— 134.3 mi, about 2h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Union, MI.
1
Start on US 12
79 ft·8 sec·Michigan Avenue
2
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
5
Merge onto I 94
16 mi·17 min·Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
118 mi·2 hr 6 min·Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 131 South: Three Rivers
8
Merge onto US 131
26 mi·29 min·US-131
9
Continue on US 131
3.1 mi·4 min·Constantine Bypass
10
Turn right onto Riverside Drive
4.6 mi·6 min·Riverside Drive
11
Turn right onto US 12
0.2 mi·27 sec·West Chicago Road
12
Continue on US 12
0.3 mi·22 sec·West Chicago Road
13
Continue on US 12
6.1 mi·8 min·US-12
14
Arrive at destination
US 12
Trip Plan
Starting your 3 hour and 18 minute drive from Dearborn in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Union, MI. With a single stop recommended, you can easily break up the 176.6 miles at a convenient point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a planned stop is over 134 miles. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $28, so budget accordingly. This is a drive where flexibility is key; you can easily adjust your departure time based on your plans in Union.
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 88.3 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.3 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 39 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.3 miles or 1h 36m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, 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 176.6 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 Detroit Industrial Expressway for about 134.3 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 0 and 136.3 — 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
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
5
2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
18.5 mi into trip|~22m in|I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
136.3 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 131 South: Three Rivers
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 131 South: Three Rivers
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.61 one way
$55.22 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.31
$60.63
premium
$4.89
$33.99
$67.97
diesel
$5.61
$38.99
$77.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53
0
$18.54
$8.48
Efficient EV
44.2
0
$15.45
$7.06
EV Truck/SUV
70.6
0
$24.72
$11.30
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Late night
in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Union, MI
Late night
in Union on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3h 18m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Primarily a highway-focused drive, you'll spend most of your time on expressways and major roads, including the Detroit Industrial Expressway and US-131. The majority of this 176.6-mile journey, a significant 134.3 miles, is on the Detroit Industrial Expressway, offering a consistent driving experience. This configuration means you'll encounter a high highway share of 94%, suggesting relatively fast and uninterrupted travel for much of the trip. Expect smooth progress as you make your way across Michigan.
94% 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: 134.3 mi on Detroit Industrial Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Detroit Industrial Expressway and US-131. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Schaefer Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 176.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 176.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 134.3 miles on Detroit Industrial Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Union, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Union, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
