How far is Dearborn, MI from Waterford, MI?
The driving distance from Dearborn, MI to Waterford, MI is about 33.6 miles (54 km), with a travel time of about 00h 54m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 28.3 miles (45.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 00h 54m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Dearborn and Waterford.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn and Waterford.
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1
Start on Michigan Avenue
24 m · 7 sec · Michigan Avenue
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2
Turn left onto Schaefer Road
2572 ft · 1 min · Schaefer Road
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3
Turn right onto Ford Road
159 m · 11 sec · Ford Road
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4
Continue on Ford Road
1.9 mi · 3 min · Ford Road
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5
Turn slight right
1987 ft · 1 min
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6
Turn straight onto North M 39 Service Drive
107 m · 8 sec · North M 39 Service Drive
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7
Take the ramp straight toward M 39 North
146 m · 12 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Southfield Freeway
8.5 mi · 12 min · Southfield Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on M 10 North: Lansing
2572 ft · 1 min
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10
Merge slight left onto John C Lodge Freeway
3.5 mi · 4 min · John C Lodge Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward US 24 North
1649 ft · 40 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Telegraph Road
7.6 mi · 12 min · Telegraph Road
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13
Keep slight left to continue on South Telegraph Road
2.9 mi · 5 min · South Telegraph Road
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14
Turn left onto Voorheis Street
1.4 km · 2 min · Voorheis Street
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15
Turn left onto West Huron Street
1.2 km · 1 min · West Huron Street
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16
Continue on Highland Road
3.3 mi · 5 min · Highland Road
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17
Turn right onto Airport Road
2 mi · 4 min · Airport Road
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18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Williams Lake Road
75 m · 7 sec · Williams Lake Road
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19
Turn right onto David K Drive
1626 ft · 1 min · David K Drive
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · David K Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Dearborn and Waterford.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Southfield Freeway
Merge slight left onto Southfield Freeway
8.52 mi · 00h 12m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Sunny leaving Dearborn and Sunny near Waterford.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Dearborn to Waterford?
The road trip is about 33.6 miles (54 km) and usually takes 00h 54m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Bingham Farms is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.8 miles from Dearborn and 16.8 miles from Waterford.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 28.3 miles (45.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:42 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.45 one way or $8.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Dearborn and Sunny near Waterford.
Stop Ideas Near Bingham Farms
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bingham Farms.
Troy Transit Center
Birmingham, Michigan
Royal Oak station
Pontiac Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Dearborn and Waterford. Straight-line distance: 28.28 mi (45.52 km).
#1 Dearborn
The most populous city in Wayne County, Michigan.
| Population | 93,367 |
| Coordinates | 42.3222600, -83.1763100 |
| Altitude | 180 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Waterford
Charter township in Oakland county, Michigan
| Population | 75,737 |
| Coordinates | 42.6930300, -83.4118100 |
| Altitude | 294 |
| Country | United States |
End: Waterford (-83.41181, 42.69303)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 54 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 07m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 50m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 40m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 33m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $4.45 | $8.90 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $5.02 | $10.04 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $5.49 | $10.98 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $6.26 | $12.52 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.