Origin
Northville, MI
Late night in Northville on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northville, MI to Dearborn, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
23.8 mi
38 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northville, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 23.8-mile drive from Northville, MI to Dearborn, MI is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 34 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I-96 and the Southfield Freeway, with a portion on Sheldon Road, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this is an economical option for a quick journey. Given its brevity and the fact that both locations are within the Midwest region of Michigan, no overnight stay is necessary. This trip is ideal for a quick commute or a short excursion, allowing for flexibility in departure times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 9.2 mi | 9m |
| Sheldon Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Southfield Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| M 14 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Ford Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Jeffries Freeway (Local) | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Schaefer Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Center Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 9.2 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northville, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on North Center Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Center Street
2
Enter roundabout onto Sheldon Road
113 ft
·
2 sec
·
Sheldon Road
3
Continue on Sheldon Road
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sheldon Road
4
Continue on North Sheldon Road
471 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Sheldon Road
5
Take the ramp
508 ft
·
12 sec
Toward M 14: Detroit, Ann Arbor
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward M 14 East: Detroit
7
Merge onto M 14
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
M 14
8
Continue on I 96
9.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 96
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Jeffries Freeway (Local)
Toward I 96 Local: To All Exits
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 183
Toward M 39: Southfield Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward M 39 South: Southfield Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto M 39
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 7
Toward M 153
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on South M 39 Service Drive
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South M 39 Service Drive
15
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Ford Road
16
Turn straight onto M 153
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Ford Road
17
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto US 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
US 12
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 20.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward M 14: Detroit, Ann Arbor
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward M 14: Detroit, Ann Arbor
7
15.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Local)
Keep slight right at fork onto I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Local) toward I 96 Local: To All Exits
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 96 Local: To All Exits
7
17.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward M 39: Southfield Freeway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 183
Toward M 39: Southfield Freeway
7
17.5 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward M 39 South: Southfield Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward M 39 South: Southfield Freeway
7
20.6 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.72 one way
$7.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.09 | $8.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.58 | $9.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.25 | $10.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.50 | $1.14 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.08 | $0.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Dearborn, MI
Late night in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 13 mph
63% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 2:52PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued April 16 at 1:53PM EDT until April 17 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
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
27 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
34m 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?
The drive presents a mixed profile, with 58% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches of faster-paced interstate driving, including a continuous 9.2-mile segment on I-96. The inclusion of Sheldon Road and the Southfield Freeway means you'll transition between different types of roadways. Expect a dynamic driving experience that balances efficient highway travel with potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.2 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 23.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles (I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.3 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Northville, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 14: Detroit, Ann Arbor, M 14 East: Detroit and M 153.
M 14: Detroit
3.3 mi in
|
~6m
Ann Arbor
3.3 mi in
|
~6m
M 14 East: Detroit
3.4 mi in
|
~6m
M 153
20.6 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 34m. Total distance: 23.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.2 miles on I 96. 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 Dearborn, 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: at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles (I 96 / Jeffries Freeway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.3 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 Dearborn, 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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