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 Westland, 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
32m
Distance
19.3 mi
31 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southgate, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Westland, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
This 25.6-mile journey from Southgate, MI to Westland, MI is a straightforward day trip, easily completed in about 33 minutes. Primarily utilizing local roads like Dix Highway and Southfield Road, with no significant highway stretches, you'll find this drive to be fairly turn-heavy. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, it's an economical option for getting between these two Midwest locations. Since it's a short, direct route, you won't need an overnight stay, offering plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Merriman Road | 5 mi | 8m |
| Detroit Industrial Expressway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Ford Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Dix Highway | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Ecorse Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Southfield Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Dix-Toledo Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Merriman Road
— 5 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southgate, MI and Westland, MI.
1
Start on Dix-Toledo Highway
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Dix-Toledo Highway
2
Continue on Dix Highway
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Dix Highway
3
Turn right onto M 39
397 ft
·
8 sec
·
Southfield Road
4
Take the exit
173 ft
·
7 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto M 39
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Southfield Road
6
Keep slight right at fork onto M 39
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Southfield Road
7
Take the exit
289 ft
·
8 sec
Exit 1
Toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago, Outer Drive
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 94
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Detroit Industrial Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 200
Toward Ecorse Road, Inkster
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Ecorse Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Ecorse Road
13
Turn right onto Merriman Road
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Merriman Road
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto M 153
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ford Road
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
M 153
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 9.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
4.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
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 1
Toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
7
4.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Chicago, Outer Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 West: Chicago, Outer Drive
7
4.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
8
9.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward Ecorse Road, Inkster
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 200
Toward Ecorse Road, Inkster
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.02 one way
$6.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.31 | $6.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.71 | $7.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.26 | $8.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Westland, MI
Afternoon in Westland on Tuesday
Local time
12:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
1 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
32m 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 'turn-heavy local drive' for this entire 25.6-mile trip, as there's a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the profile suggests you'll be navigating a series of intersections and local road segments rather than long, open stretches. This means paying close attention to traffic signals and turns will be key to a smooth transit. The character of the drive remains consistent, focusing on local connectivity between Southgate and Westland.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5 mi on Merriman Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 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 10 decision points packed into just 19.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Westland, MI, road signs point toward Chicago and Inkster.
Chicago
4.6 mi in
|
~9m
Inkster
9.3 mi in
|
~15m
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 Westland, MI
Full guide →Westland is a city in Wayne County in the state of Michigan.
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 32m. Total distance: 19.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5 miles on Merriman Road. 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 Westland, 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 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Westland, 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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