Origin
Washington, MI
Late night in Washington on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington, 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
52m
Distance
37.5 mi
60 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 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington, MI
Arian Fernandez
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Washington, MI to Dearborn, MI, you are looking at a straightforward 37.5-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This is a classic Midwest commuter path that works perfectly as a quick day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With a fuel budget of just $6, it is an incredibly affordable route to navigate. You will primarily utilize the Christopher Columbus Freeway, the South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, and Mound Road to reach your destination. Because the entire drive takes place within the Midwest region, the transition between these two Michigan towns feels familiar and cohesive. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you where you need to go efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Freeway | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Mound Road | 7.3 mi | 11m |
| Edsel Ford Freeway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| 18 1/2 Mile Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Michigan Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Van Dyke Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Christopher Columbus Freeway
— 7.8 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, MI and Dearborn, MI.
1
Start on West Road
36 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Road
2
Turn right onto Van Dyke Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Dyke Road
3
Turn right onto 26 Mile Road
187 ft
·
3 sec
·
26 Mile Road
4
Turn slight left
350 ft
·
20 sec
5
Turn left onto 26 Mile Road
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
26 Mile Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward M 53 South
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto M 53
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Christopher Columbus Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 15
Toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West
Use the slight right lane.
9
Enter roundabout onto 18 1/2 Mile Road
184 ft
·
7 sec
·
18 1/2 Mile Road
10
Continue on 18 1/2 Mile Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
18 1/2 Mile Road
11
Turn straight onto Mound Road
7.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Mound Road
Use the right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Mound Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Mound Road
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
14
Keep slight right at fork onto Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 696
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-696 West to I-75 South
Toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
Use the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto I 75
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 53B
Toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto I 94
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Edsel Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 210A
Toward US 12: Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
At end of road, turn right onto US 12
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Michigan Avenue
Use the right lane.
24
Arrive at destination
US 12
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Washington, 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 9.4 and 30.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
9.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West
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 15
Toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West
8
21.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
8
22.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I-696 West to I-75 South
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 South toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
8
30.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward I 94: Port Huron, 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 53B
Toward I 94: Port Huron, Chicago
8
30.5 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.86 one way
$11.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.44 | $12.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.22 | $14.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.28 | $16.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
28 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
52m 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 drive that is heavily focused on highway travel, with 67% of your route spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a mix of fast-paced freeway movement and local surface streets as you transition toward Dearborn. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 7.8 miles while traveling along the Christopher Columbus Freeway. The personality of this route is utilitarian rather than scenic, characterized by a steady, highway-focused pace. You should be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic as you move from the outer suburbs into the more densely populated areas of the region.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.8 mi on Christopher Columbus Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Christopher Columbus Freeway and South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 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 20 decision points packed into just 37.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.1 miles (I-696 West to I-75 South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
703 ft
585 ft
Total Climb
54 ft
Total Descent
165 ft
Highest Point
703 ft
Elevation Range
118 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 Washington, MI and Dearborn, MI, road signs point toward Van Dyke Road North, 18 ½ Mile Road West, Port Huron, Flint, Toledo and Chicago.
Van Dyke Road North
9.4 mi in
|
~11m
18 ½ Mile Road West
9.4 mi in
|
~11m
Port Huron
18.1 mi in
|
~25m
Flint
21.9 mi in
|
~30m
Toledo
22.1 mi in
|
~31m
|
via I-696 West to I-75 South
Chicago
30.2 mi in
|
~40m
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 52m. Total distance: 37.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.8 miles on Christopher Columbus Freeway. 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 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.1 miles (I-696 West to I-75 South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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