Dearborn, MI to Woodland, MI is 119.4 miles and takes about 2h 25m via I 96, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest drive stays entirely within Michigan, offering a straightforward journey. Expect a route that's predominantly highway, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. Given its manageable length and estimated fuel cost, this drive is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.7 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
56.8 mi
1h
East Mount Hope Highway
19 mi
25m
Ransom E Olds Freeway
9.6 mi
10m
Southfield Freeway
8.5 mi
11m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.2 mi
8m
John C Lodge Freeway
3.9 mi
4m
West Saint Joseph Highway
3 mi
4m
East Barnum Road
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 56.8 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Woodland, 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
8.5 mi·11 min·Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 16Toward M 10 North: LansingUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto M 10
3.9 mi·4 min·John C Lodge Freeway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 18CToward I 696 West: LansingUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 696
8.2 mi·8 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 96
18 mi·19 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
39 mi·41 min·I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 106BToward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
16
Merge onto I 496; US 127
2.8 mi·3 min·Ransom E Olds Freeway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 496
6.7 mi·7 min·Ransom E Olds Freeway
Toward I 496 West: Downtown Lansing
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 1BToward Creyts Road North
19
Turn right onto South Creyts Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·South Creyts Road
20
Turn left onto West Saint Joseph Highway
3.0 mi·4 min·West Saint Joseph Highway
21
Turn left onto Nixon Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Nixon Road
22
Turn right onto East Mount Hope Highway
19 mi·25 min·East Mount Hope Highway
23
Continue on East Barnum Road
2.0 mi·2 min·East Barnum Road
24
Turn right onto Velte Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Velte Road
25
Turn left onto M 43
0.5 mi·41 sec·East Carlton Center Road
26
Continue on M 43
0.5 mi·53 sec·East Broadway Street
27
Arrive at destination
M 43
Trip Plan
For this 119.4-mile trip, leaving Dearborn, MI in the morning will give you ample time to reach Woodland, MI by afternoon. With a driving duration of just over two hours, you likely won't need many stops, but it's wise to take a break if you feel tired. The fuel cost is estimated at $19, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing, as major services might be less frequent on certain highway segments. Keep an eye out for the transitions between I 96 and the other main roads mentioned to ensure you stay on course for Woodland.
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 59.7 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.8 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.7 miles or 1h 10m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodland, 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 119.4 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Dearborn, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 56.8 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 81.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Schaefer Road
Turn left onto Schaefer Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
11.5 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward M 10 North: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16
Toward M 10 North: Lansing
7
15.9 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I 696 West: Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 18C
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
6
42.5 mi into trip|~52m in|I 96
Keep slight left at fork onto I 96
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106B
Toward I 496, US 127 North: Downtown Lansing
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.67 one way
$37.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.50
$40.99
premium
$4.89
$22.98
$45.95
diesel
$5.61
$26.36
$52.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.8
0
$12.54
$5.73
Efficient EV
29.9
0
$10.45
$4.78
EV Truck/SUV
47.8
0
$16.72
$7.64
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Dearborn, MI
Morning
in Dearborn on Tuesday
Local time
7:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
28°F
Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Partly Cloudy
NNW 6 to 15 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Woodland, MI
Morning
in Woodland on Tuesday
Local time
7:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
33 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
2h 25m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 73% of the journey utilizing major freeways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 96, including a longest stretch of 56.8 miles without needing to exit. The route begins with freeway travel and largely maintains that character throughout. While there are brief transitions onto roads like East Mount Hope Highway and Ransom E Olds Freeway, the overall experience is one of consistent, efficient highway driving.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.8 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and East Mount Hope Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Schaefer Road.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 119.4 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: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 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.
Between Dearborn, MI and Woodland, MI, road signs point toward M 10 North: Lansing and Creyts Road North.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 119.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.8 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Woodland, 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. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 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 Woodland, MI before heading back.
