Origin
South Monroe, MI
Late night in South Monroe on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Monroe, 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
47m
Distance
35.3 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great 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 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Monroe, MI
fish socks
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from South Monroe to Dearborn, you are looking at a straightforward 38.2-mile journey that typically takes about 46 minutes to complete. Because the route is quite short, it is perfectly suited for a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel for the one-way drive, making it a very budget-friendly commute within the Midwest. Since you are staying within Michigan, the transition between these two locations is seamless and familiar. This drive is ideal for travelers who prefer local roads over major interstates, providing a direct connection between these two Michigan communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Toledo Expressway | 16.6 mi | 17m |
| Fisher Freeway | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| South Monroe Street | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Highway South | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Nadeau Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South Dixie Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Detroit-Toledo Expressway
— 16.6 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Monroe, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on this road
266 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto M 125
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dixie Highway
4
Continue on M 125
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
South Monroe Street
5
Turn right onto Nadeau Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Nadeau Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 75 North: Detroit
7
Merge onto I 75
17 mi
·
17 min
·
Detroit-Toledo Expressway
8
Continue on I 75
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Fisher Freeway
Toward I 75
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 43
Toward M 85: Fort Street, Schaefer Highway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward Schaefer Highway North
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn slight left onto Schaefer Highway South
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Schaefer Highway South
12
Continue on Schaefer Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Schaefer Road
13
Turn left onto US 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
US 12
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from South Monroe, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 35.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
M 125 / South Dixie Highway
At end of road, turn left onto M 125 / South Dixie Highway
Navigation decision point
8
31.5 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward M 85: Fort Street, Schaefer Highway
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 43
Toward M 85: Fort Street, Schaefer Highway
8
31.7 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Schaefer Highway North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward Schaefer Highway North
6
35.3 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Turn left onto US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.52 one way
$11.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.06 | $12.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.79 | $13.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.79 | $15.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Late night in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 13 mph
63% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued April 16 at 1:53PM EDT until April 17 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:16PM CDT by NWS Marquette MI
68°F
Trenton, MI
18 mi in
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
25 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
47m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will navigate primarily via South Dixie Highway, South Monroe Street, and Nadeau Road rather than relying on high-speed expressways. In fact, this route features zero percent highway share, meaning you will be driving through local streets for the entire 38.2 miles. Without any long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the journey feels more like an active local transit than a long-distance cruise. Prepare for frequent turns and a steady pace as you make your way toward Dearborn.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.6 mi on Detroit-Toledo Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Detroit-Toledo Expressway and Fisher Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (M 125 / South Dixie Highway): Navigation decision point; at 31.5 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
607 ft
583 ft
Total Climb
38 ft
Total Descent
44 ft
Highest Point
607 ft
~22.7 mi in
Elevation Range
24 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 South Monroe, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward Schaefer Highway and Schaefer Highway North.
Schaefer Highway
31.5 mi in
|
~39m
Schaefer Highway North
31.7 mi in
|
~39m
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 47m. Total distance: 35.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.6 miles on Detroit-Toledo 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (M 125 / South Dixie Highway): Navigation decision point; at 31.5 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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