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Trip from Potterville, MI to Dearborn, MI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 53m

Distance

96.9 mi

156 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 45m ★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 10m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 49m

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 Potterville, MI, MI

Potterville, MI

fish socks

city in Wayne County, Michigan, USA

Dearborn, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 96.9-mile drive from Potterville, MI, to Dearborn, MI, is designed to be completed in just under 2 hours, making it an ideal day trip. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 92% of the journey on major interstates, including I-96 and the Walter P Reuther Freeway. You can expect to spend around $15 on fuel for this relatively short distance. Since it’s a quick trip through the Midwest, no overnight stops are necessary, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

48.5 miles from Potterville, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 65 mi 1h 9m
Walter P Reuther Freeway 8.9 mi 10m
Southfield Freeway 8.2 mi 11m
John C Lodge Freeway 4.1 mi 4m
I 69 3.2 mi 3m
Ford Road 2.1 mi 3m
Lansing Road 1.6 mi 2m
Potterville Street 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 65 mi, about 1h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Potterville, MI and Dearborn, MI.

1

Start on M 100

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Potterville Street
2

Continue on M 100

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Hartel Road
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec
4

Merge onto I 69

3.2 mi · 3 min · I 69
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward Lansing Road
6

Keep slight left at fork

520 ft · 13 sec
Toward Lansing Road
7

Turn right onto Lansing Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · Lansing Road
8

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward I-96 EAST: Detroit
9

Merge onto I 96

65 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Continue on I 696

8.9 mi · 10 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port Huron Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto M 10

4.1 mi · 4 min · John C Lodge Freeway
12

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 14C Toward M 39 Use the slight right lane.
13

Merge onto M 39

8.2 mi · 11 min · Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 7 Toward M 153 Use the slight right lane.
15

Continue on South M 39 Service Drive

0.3 mi · 38 sec · South M 39 Service Drive
16

Turn slight right

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Toward Ford Road
17

Turn straight onto M 153

2.1 mi · 3 min · Ford Road
18

Turn right onto Schaefer Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
19

Turn right onto US 12

79 ft · 1 sec · Michigan Avenue
20

Arrive at destination

US 12

Trip Plan

Given the short 96.9-mile distance and efficient highway profile, you have plenty of flexibility for when you depart. Leaving Potterville, MI, during off-peak hours can help you avoid any potential traffic as you approach the greater Detroit area. With no designated stops required, consider making a brief fuel or restroom break whenever you feel the need, especially before embarking on the 65-mile stretch on I-96. The $15 fuel cost is minimal, so focus on a smooth transition into Dearborn.

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 48.5 miles from Potterville, MI, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65 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 21 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 48.5 miles or 54m 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 28m

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 Potterville, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Potterville, MI

This is one driving day of about 96.9 miles and 1h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Potterville, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 96 for about 65 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city and county seat of Livingston County, Michigan, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Howell, MI

48 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Haslett, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Howell, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.5 miles from Potterville, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 96 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best coffee break · home stretch

Haraz Coffee House

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Dearborn, Michigan

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+13134299888

Visit website

Brighton Coffee House and Theater

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brighton, Michigan

0.9 mi

Coffee Beanery Brighton

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brighton, Michigan

0.7 mi

Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop & Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10

Livonia, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12489578019

Visit website

Haraz Coffee House

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Dearborn, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+13134299888

Visit website

Brighton Coffee House and Theater

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Brighton, Michigan

Hours: 6:30 am–6:30 pm

Visit website

Coffee Beanery Brighton

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour Inexpensiv

Brighton, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+18102272233

Visit website

Qahwah House Coffee - East Dearborn

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Dearborn, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+13139084521

Visit website

Coffee Barrel

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Holt, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+15176949000

Visit website

Farmhouse Coffee & Ice Cream

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Farmington Hills, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12485627708

Visit website

Built & Brewed In Detroit Coffee Bar (Inside Michigan First Credit Union)

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Lathrup Village, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

Visit website

Ground Control Coffee Roasters

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Farmington, Michigan

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+12489872013

Visit website

Harris Nature Center

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Okemos, Michigan

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

+15173493866

Visit website

Painting with a Twist

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Farmington, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+12484767928

Visit website

Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

Detroit, Michigan

Hours: 12–5 pm

+13138983007

Visit website

Maybury State Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Northville, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+12483498390

Visit website

Maybury Farm

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Northville, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+12483740200

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 96.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
4.7 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Lansing Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Lansing Road
5
6.8 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 96

Merge onto I 96

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
84.9 mi into trip | ~1h 34m 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
93.7 mi into trip | ~1h 47m 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
96.4 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in | Schaefer Road

Turn right onto Schaefer Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.15 one way

$30.30 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.63 $33.27
premium $4.89 $18.65 $37.30
diesel $5.61 $21.39 $42.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.1 0 $10.17 $4.65
Efficient EV 24.2 0 $8.48 $3.88
EV Truck/SUV 38.8 0 $13.57 $6.20

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Potterville, MI

Morning in Potterville on Tuesday

Local time

6:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dearborn, MI

Morning in Dearborn on Tuesday

Local time

6:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

WSW 10 to 14 mph 76% chance 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

11 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

1h 53m 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?

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 1-hour, 53-minute journey. With 92% of the drive on major roads like I-96 and the Southfield Freeway, you'll encounter consistent speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch is an impressive 65 miles on I-96, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. This route prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours, providing a practical and direct path between its Michigan destinations.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65 mi on I 96.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Walter P Reuther Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.8 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.9 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 Potterville, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward M 5 East: Port Huron and M 39.

M 5 East: Port Huron

71.9 mi in | ~1h 19m | via I 696

M 39

84.9 mi in | ~1h 34m

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 1h 53m. Total distance: 96.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 65 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 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.8 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.9 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 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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