Origin
Brighton, MI
Late night in Brighton on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brighton, MI to Sterling Heights, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
46 mi
74 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brighton, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
Brighton to Sterling Heights is 46 miles and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes via I 96 and Walter P Reuther Freeway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface streets as you make your way east. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for a quick hop between these two Michigan communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 96 | 14.9 mi | 15m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| West Big Beaver Road | 6.9 mi | 12m |
| Telegraph Road | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Quarton Road | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| Metropolitan Parkway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Mound Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| 17 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 96
— 14.9 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brighton, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.
1
Start on East Grand River Avenue
50 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Grand River Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto Spencer Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Spencer Street
4
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-96 EAST: Detroit
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 23 North, I 96 East: Flint, Detroit
Use the slight left lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
7
Merge onto I 96
15 mi
·
15 min
·
I 96
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 696
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Toward I 696 East, M 5 East: Port Huron
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto M 10
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
John C Lodge Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 18A
Toward US 24 North: Telegraph Road
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on US 24
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Telegraph Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto Quarton Road
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Quarton Road
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on West Big Beaver Road
6.9 mi
·
12 min
·
West Big Beaver Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on Metropolitan Parkway
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Metropolitan Parkway
15
Continue on Metropolitan Parkway
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Metropolitan Parkway
16
Turn right onto Mound Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Mound Road
Use the right lane.
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
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Brighton, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 44 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 23 North, I 96 East: Flint, Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 23 North, I 96 East: Flint, Detroit
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 East: Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 96
Merge onto I 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
26.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward US 24 North: Telegraph Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 18A
Toward US 24 North: Telegraph Road
6
44 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
Mound Road
Turn right onto Mound Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.19 one way
$14.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.90 | $15.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.85 | $17.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.16 | $20.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Sterling Heights, MI
Late night in Sterling Heights on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Clear
W 8 to 12 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 11:24PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 10:37PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
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
7 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 5m 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 about 58% highway, with the longest continuous stretch on I 96 covering 14.9 miles. You'll experience highway cruising for a significant portion before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a noticeable change in the driving environment as you move from the freeway to surface streets like West Big Beaver Road, likely encountering more intersections and varied traffic patterns.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.9 mi on I 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.3 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
On the drive from Brighton, MI to Sterling Heights, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 5 East: Port Huron along the way.
M 5 East: Port Huron
17.2 mi in
|
~20m
|
via I 696
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 46 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.9 miles on I 96. 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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.3 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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