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Trip from Dexter, MI to Ann Arbor, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

17m

Distance

10.9 mi

17 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 16m ★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Dexter, MI, MI

Dexter, MI

cottonbro studio

Downtown Ann Arbor, MI, MI

Ann Arbor, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition between Dexter and Ann Arbor, this 10.9-mile trip is an incredibly efficient commute. You can expect to reach your destination in about 17 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $2 for fuel makes this one of the most economical drives in the Midwest. The route relies primarily on I-94 and Baker Road to connect these two Michigan locations. Whether you are heading into the city for business or returning home, the short duration provides maximum flexibility for your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 4.3 mi 4m
I 94 BL 3 mi 6m
Baker Road 2.9 mi 4m
South State Street 0.3 mi <1m
Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 4.3 mi, about 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dexter, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.

1

Start on this road

66 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Main Street
Use the straight lane.
3

Turn right onto Baker Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Baker Road
Use the right lane.
4

Enter roundabout onto Baker Road

73 ft · 1 sec · Baker Road
5

Continue on Baker Road

510 ft · 10 sec · Baker Road
6

Enter roundabout onto Baker Road

87 ft · 2 sec · Baker Road
7

Continue on Baker Road

2.1 mi · 3 min · Baker Road
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 94 East: Ann Arbor Use the right lane.
9

Merge onto I 94

3.8 mi · 4 min · I 94
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94

0.6 mi · 36 sec · I 94
Toward I 94, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann Arbor
11

Take the exit onto I 94 BL

3.0 mi · 6 min · I 94 BL
Exit 172 Toward I 94 Business: Ann Arbor Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn right onto South State Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · South State Street
13

Arrive at destination

South State Street

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 7.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Main Street

Turn right onto Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Baker Road

Turn right onto Baker Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
1 mi into trip | ~2m in | Baker Road

Enter roundabout onto Baker Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

6
3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward I 94 East: Ann Arbor

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 94 East: Ann Arbor
7
7.6 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 94 BL

Take the exit onto I 94 BL toward I 94 Business: Ann Arbor

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 172 Toward I 94 Business: Ann Arbor

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.70 one way

$3.41 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $1.87 $3.74
premium $4.89 $2.10 $4.20
diesel $5.61 $2.41 $4.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$2

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.3 0 $1.14 $0.52
Efficient EV 2.7 0 $0.95 $0.44
EV Truck/SUV 4.4 0 $1.53 $0.70

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Dexter, MI

Late night in Dexter on Sunday

Local time

2:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SSW 7 to 12 mph 56% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:33PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:33PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Destination

Ann Arbor, MI

Late night in Ann Arbor on Sunday

Local time

2:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

2 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

17m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 67% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the majority of your time navigating I-94, which features a longest uninterrupted stretch of 4.3 miles. The transition from the local streets of Dexter onto the interstate provides a straightforward, high-speed experience for most of the journey. As you approach Ann Arbor via I-94 BL, the character of the road shifts from open highway to more urbanized traffic patterns. It is a functional, no-nonsense commute that prioritizes speed over scenic detours.

67% 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: 4.3 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 94 BL. 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 Main Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 10.9 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 (Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (Baker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (Baker Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

943 ft 813 ft

Total Climb

180 ft

Total Descent

168 ft

Highest Point

943 ft

~8.5 mi in

Elevation Range

130 ft

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 10.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 4.3 miles on I 94. 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 Ann Arbor, 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: near the start (Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (Baker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (Baker Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ann Arbor, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Ann Arbor, MI to Dexter, MI

Plan the drive back the other way.

10.5 mi 17m

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