How far is Dearborn, MI from Ford River, MI?

The driving distance from Dearborn, MI to Ford River, MI is about 445.1 miles (716.3 km), with a travel time of about 08h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 304.2 miles (489.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
445.09 mi
08h 10m
Flight
304.25 mi
489.64 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dearborn.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
304.25 mi
Kilometers
489.64 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
445.09 mi
Kilometers
716.31 km
Drive Time
08h 10m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 08h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ford River
Thu, Apr 23, 1:36 PM EDT
Return by in Dearborn
Thu, Apr 23, 9:47 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dearborn
2026-04-23T05:26
Arrive Ford River
Thu, Apr 23, 1:36 PM EDT
Route Timing
08h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:10 PM to 3:40 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
7:40 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dearborn
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Otsego Lake
MI

Township in Otsego County, Michigan

From Dearborn
222.4 mi
04h 05m
To Ford River
222.7 mi
04h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
58°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Dearborn and Ford River.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn and Ford River.

  1. 1

    Start on Michigan Avenue

    3091 ft · 1 min · Michigan Avenue

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East: Detroit

    1761 ft · 43 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Detroit Industrial Expressway

    1488 ft · 23 sec · Detroit Industrial Expressway

  4. 4

    Continue on Edsel Ford Freeway

    5.6 mi · 8 min · Edsel Ford Freeway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Flint, Toledo

    92 m · 6 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Flint

    2575 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    57.6 mi · 1 hr 2 min · North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw

    52.4 mi · 56 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    62.9 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    117.6 mi · 2 hr 1 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba

    1913 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto US-2 West

    1.1 km · 1 min · US-2 West

  13. 13

    Continue on US 2

    3.2 mi · 4 min · US 2

  14. 14

    Continue on US-2 West

    134.6 mi · 2 hr 40 min · US-2 West

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto North Lincoln Road

    8.5 mi · 11 min · North Lincoln Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 9.9 Lane

    26 m · 4 sec · 9.9 Lane

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 9.9 Lane

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dearborn and Ford River.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
17 steps
1 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
233 mi · 52%
US-2 West
135 mi · 30%
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
57.6 mi · 13%
North Lincoln Road
8.45 mi · 2%
Edsel Ford Freeway
5.56 mi · 1%
US 2
3.55 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US-2 West

Continue on US-2 West

135 mi · 02h 40m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
08h 10m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+140.9 mi
304.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Otsego Lake
04h 05m from Dearborn
Leave By
7:40 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Dearborn and Partly Sunny near Ford River.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dearborn to Ford River?

The road trip is about 445.1 miles (716.3 km) and usually takes 08h 10m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Otsego Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 222.4 miles from Dearborn and 222.7 miles from Ford River.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 304.2 miles (489.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 140.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $59.24 one way or $118.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 139.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Dearborn and Partly Sunny near Ford River.

Stop Ideas Near Otsego Lake

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Otsego Lake, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Otsego Lake.

BUS

Boyne City, Michigan

41 mi away
1000 East Division St.
BUS

Walloon Lake, Michigan

44 mi away
Hwy 131 & Hwy 75
BUS

Petoskey, Michigan

55 mi away
301 West Mitchell St.
BUS

Alanson, MI

59 mi away
7640 Burr Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dearborn and Ford River. Straight-line distance: 304.25 mi (489.64 km).

Dearborn

#1 Dearborn

The most populous city in Wayne County, Michigan.

Population93,367
Coordinates42.3222600, -83.1763100
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Ford River

Human settlement in Delta County, Michigan, United States of America

Population1,993
Coordinates45.6794100, -87.1401300
Altitude178
CountryUnited States
Start: Dearborn (-83.17631, 42.32226)
End: Ford River (-87.14013, 45.67941)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 716 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.71 gal
59.45 L · about $59.24
Round trip
$118.48
31.42 gal · 118.9 L
Estimated CO2
139.6 kg one way
Round trip: 279.2 kg / 616 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $59.24 $118.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $66.81 $133.63
Premium $4.65 $73.11 $146.23
Diesel $5.30 $83.33 $166.65

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Michigan · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Dearborn and Ford River. The current time is 05:26:23.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.