Origin
Bridgewater, MI
Morning in Bridgewater on Tuesday
Local time
9:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bridgewater, MI to Sterling Heights, 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
1h 29m
Distance
69.6 mi
112 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bridgewater, MI
Aaron Burden
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
Bridgewater, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is 69.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via I 94 and North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip focused on getting you from point A to point B efficiently within the Midwest region of Michigan. Expect a drive that keeps you on major roadways for most of the journey. With only one recommended day for this trip, it's an ideal choice if you're looking for a quick transit between these two Michigan communities without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 35.6 mi | 40m |
| North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| West Michigan Avenue | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| Mound Road | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| Austin Road | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| 17 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| US 23 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 35.6 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bridgewater, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.
1
Start on Austin Road
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Austin Road
2
Turn left onto US 12
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
West Michigan Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
4
Merge onto US 23
0.9 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 23
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 94
36 mi
·
40 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
302 ft
·
5 sec
Exit 216A
Toward I 75: Flint, Toledo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 North: Flint
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 75
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 61
Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I-75 North to I-696 East
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I-75 North to I-696 East
Toward I 696 East: Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 696
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I-696 East
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
I-696 East
Exit 22
Toward Mound Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road
Toward Mound Road North
Use the slight left lane.
16
Turn straight onto Mound Road
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Mound Road
17
Turn right onto 17 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
17 Mile Road
18
Arrive at destination
17 Mile Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.8 miles from Bridgewater, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 13.4 and 58.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
13.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports
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 BL East: Detroit, Airports
8
49.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 75: Flint, Toledo
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 216A
Toward I 75: Flint, Toledo
7
49.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 North: Flint
8
58 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
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 61
Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
7
58.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
I-75 North to I-696 East
Keep slight right at fork onto I-75 North to I-696 East toward I 696 East: Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 696 East: Port Huron
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.88 one way
$21.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.95 | $23.89 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.39 | $26.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.37 | $30.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
| Efficient EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.74 | $4.45 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
Sterling Heights, MI
Morning in Sterling Heights on Tuesday
Local time
9:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Widespread Fog
NNE 2 mph
2% chance
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
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 29m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with approximately 70% of the journey utilizing major freeways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I 94, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 35.6 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience on these main roads, designed for steady travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. While West Michigan Avenue offers a change of pace, the overall character leans towards efficient highway transit.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Bridgewater, MI and Sterling Heights, MI, road signs point toward Chicago, Airports, Toledo, Port Huron and Mound Road North.
Chicago
13.3 mi in
|
~20m
Airports
13.4 mi in
|
~20m
Toledo
49.6 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Port Huron
58 mi in
|
~1h 11m
Mound Road North
62 mi in
|
~1h 16m
|
via I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road
About the Cities
Arriving in Sterling Heights, MI
Full guide →Sterling Heights is in 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 1h 29m. Total distance: 69.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.6 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 Sterling Heights, 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 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sterling Heights, 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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