Origin
Saline, MI
Late night in Saline on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saline, 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
46m
Distance
37.6 mi
60 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saline, MI
Atlantic Ambience
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 37.6-mile drive from Saline, Michigan, to Dearborn, Michigan, takes approximately 46 minutes and is a straightforward trip through the Midwest. With a highway share of 75%, it's primarily a focused interstate journey. It's easily manageable as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost is around $6, making it an economical option. This route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these two Michigan communities, characterized by its highway-centric profile.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 27.3 mi | 29m |
| West Michigan Avenue | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 23 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| Butler Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 27.3 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saline, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on US 12
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
West Michigan Avenue
Use the left lane.
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
3
Merge onto US 23
0.9 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 23
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 94
27 mi
·
29 min
·
I 94
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 37.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Saline, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 6.9 and 37.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
8
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports
8
35 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
8
35.6 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
37.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Turn left onto US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.88 one way
$11.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.45 | $12.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.24 | $14.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.30 | $16.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.26 | $2.41 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
15 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
46m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this route, with 75% of the journey on major roads like I-94. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.3 miles on I-94, providing a consistent pace. You'll transition onto West Michigan Avenue and then Schaefer Road, introducing some local road segments. This mix means you'll experience both the efficiency of highway travel and the slight changes in environment as you approach your destination.
75% 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: 27.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and West Michigan Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 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 12 decision points packed into just 37.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
837 ft
591 ft
Total Climb
16 ft
Total Descent
246 ft
Highest Point
837 ft
~5.4 mi in
Elevation Range
246 ft
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 Saline, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward Chicago and Airports.
Chicago
6.9 mi in
|
~10m
Airports
7.1 mi in
|
~10m
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 46m. Total distance: 37.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.3 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 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 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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