Origin
Sandstone, MI
Morning in Sandstone on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sandstone, 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
1h 28m
Distance
77.7 mi
125 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sandstone, MI
Alfo Medeiros
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 77.7-mile drive from Sandstone to Dearborn, Michigan, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes. With a highway share of 93%, you'll spend most of your time on I-94, making it an efficient trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, which is quite budget-friendly for a day trip. This route stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Michigan. Its direct nature makes it ideal for a quick journey with minimal planning needed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 71.3 mi | 1h 16m |
| West Michigan Avenue | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| I 94 BL | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Butler Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Sandstone Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 71.3 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandstone, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on South Sandstone Road
274 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Sandstone Road
2
Turn right onto West Michigan Avenue
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Michigan Avenue
3
Take the ramp onto I 94 BL
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 94 BL
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
5
Merge onto I 94
35 mi
·
37 min
·
I 94
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 94
Toward I 94, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann Arbor
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
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.9 miles from Sandstone, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.3 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 77.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 East: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
8
38.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann Arbor
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, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann Arbor
8
75.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m 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
75.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m 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
77.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Turn left onto US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.15 one way
$24.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.34 | $26.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.95 | $29.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.16 | $34.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.16 | $3.73 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.88 | $4.97 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Morning in Dearborn on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 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
4 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 28m 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 experience for the majority of this 77.7-mile journey, with 93% of the drive taking place on high-speed roads like I-94. You'll encounter one significant stretch of 71.3 miles on I-94, meaning prolonged periods of consistent driving. While the primary roads include West Michigan Avenue and Schaefer Road, the overall profile leans heavily towards efficient interstate travel rather than varied terrain or winding local roads. This drive is about covering ground effectively.
93% 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: 71.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 3.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 38.6 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
On the drive from Sandstone, MI to Dearborn, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Ann Arbor along the way.
Ann Arbor
38.6 mi in
|
~43m
|
via I 94
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 28m. Total distance: 77.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.3 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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 38.6 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.1 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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