Origin
Southgate, MI
Afternoon in Southgate on Tuesday
Local time
12:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southgate, 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
15m
Distance
8.6 mi
14 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southgate, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 8.6-mile drive from Southgate, MI to Dearborn, MI is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 15 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily via Fisher Freeway and Schaefer Road/Schaefer Highway South, with about 31% of the journey on highways. With a minimal fuel cost estimated at just $1, this route is very budget-friendly. The drive offers a mixed experience, suitable for a quick local excursion within the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip, perfect for a brief journey without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fisher Freeway | 2.7 mi | 2m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Schaefer Highway South | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Dix Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Dix-Toledo Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Fisher Freeway
— 2.7 mi, about 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southgate, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on Dix-Toledo Highway
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Dix-Toledo Highway
2
Continue on Dix Highway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dix Highway
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 75 North: Detroit
4
Merge onto I 75
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Fisher Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 43
Toward M 85: Fort Street, Schaefer Highway
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward Schaefer Highway North
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Turn slight left onto Schaefer Highway South
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Schaefer Highway South
8
Continue on Schaefer Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Schaefer Road
9
Turn left onto US 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Arrive at destination
US 12
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 8.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 North: Detroit
Navigation decision point
Toward I 75 North: Detroit
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 75 / Fisher Freeway
Merge onto I 75 / Fisher Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m 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
5.1 mi into trip
|
~7m 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
8.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Turn left onto US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.34 one way
$2.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.48 | $2.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.65 | $3.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.90 | $3.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.90 | $0.41 |
| Efficient EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.75 | $0.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.20 | $0.55 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Afternoon in Dearborn on Tuesday
Local time
12:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Widespread Fog
NNE 2 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 2:41AM CDT until April 19 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Marquette MI
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 2:51AM EDT until April 17 at 10:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
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
13 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
15m 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?
The character of this 8.6-mile drive is a blend of freeway and local road driving. With 31% of the route on highways, you'll experience some faster-paced travel, including a longest stretch of 2.7 miles on Fisher Freeway. As you transition from Fisher Freeway, you'll likely encounter Schaefer Road and then Schaefer Highway South, which will guide you through more localized areas. This mixed profile means you'll get a feel for both efficient highway travel and the more immediate surroundings of the communities you pass through.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.7 mi on Fisher Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 5 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 8.6 miles you will encounter 5 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 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 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.
Between Southgate, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward Schaefer Highway and Schaefer Highway North.
Schaefer Highway
4.9 mi in
|
~7m
Schaefer Highway North
5.1 mi in
|
~7m
About the Cities
Starting in Southgate, MI
Full guide →Southern Wayne County is a region in Wayne County in the state of Michigan.
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 15m. Total distance: 8.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 2.7 miles on Fisher Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 75 / Fisher Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 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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