Lake Isabella to Dearborn is 167.3 miles and takes about 3 hours 13 minutes via I-96 and US-127, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Michigan, moving you through the Midwest region. It's a predominantly highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two points without extensive detours.
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
83.7 miles from Lake Isabella, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 96
56.1 mi
1h
US-127
33.4 mi
35m
Business US-127
26.6 mi
27m
West Remus Road
9 mi
12m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.9 mi
10m
South Bagley Road
8.9 mi
10m
Southfield Freeway
8.2 mi
11m
John C Lodge Freeway
4.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 56.1 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Isabella, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on North Clubhouse Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·North Clubhouse Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto North Coldwater Road
3.3 mi·4 min·North Coldwater Road
3
Turn left onto M 20
9.0 mi·12 min·West Remus Road
4
Turn right onto South Lincoln Road
1.0 mi·1 min·South Lincoln Road
5
Turn left onto East Broomfield Road
0.5 mi·41 sec·East Broomfield Road
6
Continue on West Broomfield Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West Broomfield Street
7
Turn right onto BUS US 127
0.7 mi·1 min·South Mission Street
8
Continue on BUS US 127
1.3 mi·1 min·Business US-127
9
Keep slight right at fork onto BUS US 127
25 mi·25 min·Business US-127
10
Continue on US 127
5.9 mi·6 min·South Bagley Road
11
Continue on US 127
1.4 mi·1 min·US-127
12
Continue on US 127
3.0 mi·3 min·South Bagley Road
13
Continue on US 127
32 mi·33 min·US-127
14
Take the exit onto I 496
0.9 mi·1 min·I 496
Exit 73AToward I 96 East: DetroitUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 96
56 mi·1 hr·I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on I 696
8.9 mi·10 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port HuronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto M 10
4.1 mi·4 min·John C Lodge Freeway
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 14CToward M 39Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto M 39
8.2 mi·11 min·Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 7Toward M 153Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on South M 39 Service Drive
0.3 mi·38 sec·South M 39 Service Drive
22
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward Ford Road
23
Turn straight onto M 153
2.1 mi·3 min·Ford Road
24
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
25
Turn right onto US 12
79 ft·1 sec·Michigan Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
US 12
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 13-minute duration, starting in the morning allows ample time to reach Dearborn comfortably. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 56.1-mile stretch on I-96, as services can be more spread out on major interstates. The fuel cost is estimated at $26, so factor that into your budget. This is a manageable single-day drive, so you can depart when it suits you best.
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 83.7 miles from Lake Isabella, MI, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.1 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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.7 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dearborn, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Isabella, 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 Lake Isabella, MI
This is one driving day of about 167.3 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Lake Isabella, 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 I 96 for about 56.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 85.3 and 166.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
85.3 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 496
Take the exit onto I 496 toward I 96 East: Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 73A
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
5
86.2 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|I 96
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
155.3 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Take the exit toward M 39
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14C
Toward M 39
7
164.1 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward M 153
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward M 153
6
166.8 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|Schaefer Road
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.16 one way
$52.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.72
$57.44
premium
$4.89
$32.20
$64.39
diesel
$5.61
$36.94
$73.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.2
0
$17.57
$8.03
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.64
$6.69
EV Truck/SUV
66.9
0
$23.42
$10.71
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 20, 2026
Origin
Lake Isabella, MI
Morning
in Lake Isabella on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dearborn, MI
Morning
in Dearborn on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
5 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
3h 13m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 83% of this 167.3-mile trip. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I-96 and US-127, which are designed for consistent speed. The longest stretch without a change in major highway is 56.1 miles on I-96, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While the profile is largely highway, you'll navigate Business US-127 as well, which may offer slightly different driving dynamics closer to populated areas.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.1 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and US-127. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 85.3 miles in near I 496.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 167.3 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: at 85.3 miles (I 496): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.2 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.3 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 Lake Isabella, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East: Port Huron and M 39.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 167.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.1 miles on I 96. 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 Dearborn, 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: at 85.3 miles (I 496): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.2 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Dearborn, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
