Origin
Romulus, MI
Late night in Romulus on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Romulus, MI to Dearborn, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
15.5 mi
25 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 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Romulus, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Romulus, MI to Dearborn, MI is 15.5 miles and takes about 21m via Detroit Industrial Expressway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest and Michigan, making it a convenient local excursion. The drive is primarily on highways, offering a straightforward path between these two communities. With only one recommended day, this route is ideal for a quick, no-fuss journey, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Expect a direct and functional drive for your travels.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Industrial Expressway | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Goddard Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Wayne Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Butler Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Shook Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Detroit Industrial Expressway
— 11.7 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Romulus, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on this road
133 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Shook Road
102 ft
·
8 sec
·
Shook Road
3
Turn left onto Goddard Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Goddard Road
4
Turn left onto Wayne Road
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Wayne Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
6
Merge onto I 94
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 208
Toward Greenfield Road, Schaefer Road
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward Schaefer Road
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Schaefer Road, Butler Road
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto Butler Road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Butler Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto Schaefer Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Schaefer Road
12
Turn left onto US 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
US 12
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 15.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
12.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward Greenfield Road, Schaefer Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 208
Toward Greenfield Road, Schaefer Road
5
13.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Schaefer Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Schaefer Road
8
13.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Schaefer Road, Butler Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Schaefer Road, Butler Road
6
15.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Turn left onto US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.42 one way
$4.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.66 | $5.32 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.98 | $5.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.42 | $6.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.63 | $0.74 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.17 | $0.99 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
18 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
21m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is decidedly highway-focused, with 76% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Detroit Industrial Expressway, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 11.7 miles. The character of the drive is consistent, emphasizing efficiency over scenic detours. Expect a steady pace as you navigate these main arteries, with Schaefer Road and Goddard Road completing the short journey. This isn't a winding country lane; it's a direct link designed for efficient travel.
76% 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: 11.7 mi on Detroit Industrial Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Detroit Industrial Expressway and Schaefer Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 15.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Starting in Romulus, MI
Full guide →Romulus is a city in Wayne County in the state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit and the place where Detroit Metro Airport (DTW IATA) is located.
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 21m. Total distance: 15.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.7 miles on Detroit Industrial Expressway. 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 1.2 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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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