This 82.3-mile drive from Tompkins to Dearborn, Michigan, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 20 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. With a modest fuel cost of $13, it's an economical option for a quick journey within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Woodard Road and Clinton Road, offering a turn-heavy, local feel rather than a highway cruise. You won't need to worry about splitting this drive or booking an overnight stay; it's a straightforward point-to-point adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.7 miles from Tompkins, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
36.5 mi
39m
US 127
34.1 mi
37m
Clinton Road
7.8 mi
10m
Schaefer Road
1.6 mi
3m
M 50
0.3 mi
<1m
Woodard Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Butler Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Michigan Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 36.5 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tompkins, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on Tompkins Road
39 ft·3 sec·Tompkins Road
2
Turn right onto Woodard Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·Woodard Road
3
Turn left onto M 50
7.8 mi·10 min·Clinton Road
4
Take the ramp onto M 50
0.3 mi·35 sec·M 50
5
Merge onto US 127; M 50
1.7 mi·1 min·US 127; M 50
6
Take the ramp onto US 127
32 mi·35 min·US 127
Toward I 94, US 127: Detroit
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
37 mi·39 min·I 94
Toward I 94, I 94 Business: Detroit, Ann ArborUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 208Toward Greenfield Road, Schaefer RoadUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Schaefer Road
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward Schaefer Road, Butler RoadUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto Butler Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·Butler Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto Schaefer Road
1.6 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
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 20-minute duration and 82.3-mile distance, you have plenty of flexibility for when to depart. Leaving Tompkins, MI, at your convenience is ideal, as there are no long stretches to break up. With a fuel cost of only $13, you won't need to fret about finding gas stations. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to local road signage as you navigate Woodard Road and Clinton Road, as the 'turn-heavy' nature means you'll be making frequent adjustments.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.7 miles from Tompkins, MI, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.7 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dearborn, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tompkins, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tompkins, MI
This is one driving day of about 81.5 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Tompkins, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 36.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 42.3 and 81.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
42.3 mi into trip|~48m 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
78.8 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
5
79.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Schaefer Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Schaefer Road
8
79.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m 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
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Turn left onto US 12 / Michigan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.74 one way
$25.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.99
$27.98
premium
$4.89
$15.68
$31.37
diesel
$5.61
$17.99
$35.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.56
$3.91
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.13
$3.26
EV Truck/SUV
32.6
0
$11.41
$5.22
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Tompkins, MI
Late night
in Tompkins on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dearborn, MI
Late night
in Dearborn on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 13 mph63% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:21PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued April 16 at 1:53PM EDT until April 17 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
46°F
Dexter, MI
41 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
29 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 33m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 82.3-mile journey, with 0% highway share. The main roads guiding you are Woodard Road and Clinton Road, interspersed with other local thoroughfares. This means you'll be navigating a more intricate path with frequent turns rather than covering long distances at high speeds. While there's no longest uninterrupted stretch data provided, the profile suggests a consistent engagement with the road, requiring your attention throughout the 1 hour and 20-minute duration.
87% 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: 36.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 127. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.3 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.5 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 42.3 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Tompkins, MI to Dearborn, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Ann Arbor along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 81.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.5 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 42.3 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dearborn, MI before heading back.
