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Trip from Dundee, MI to Sterling Heights, MI

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Compiled 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

75.2 mi

121 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 23m ★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

village in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan

Dundee, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Sterling Heights, MI, MI

Sterling Heights, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Dundee to Sterling Heights, you can expect a straightforward 75.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 29 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $11, it is a very budget-friendly excursion within the Midwest. The drive is almost entirely highway-focused, making it a functional connection between these two Michigan locations. Since it is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to head out whenever your schedule allows without the stress of a grueling multi-day haul.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 35.6 mi 40m
US 23 18.1 mi 19m
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway 7.8 mi 8m
Mound Road 5.9 mi 9m
Walter P Reuther Freeway 3.1 mi 3m
17 Mile Road 1 mi 1m
I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road 0.7 mi 1m
Tecumseh Street 0.6 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 35.6 mi, about 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dundee, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.

1

Start on West Main Street

16 ft · 2 sec · West Main Street
2

Turn straight onto M 50

0.6 mi · 59 sec · Tecumseh Street
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward US 23 North: Ann Arbor
4

Merge onto US 23

18 mi · 19 min · 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.

city in Wayne County, Michigan, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dearborn, MI

38 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

Saline, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Taylor, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.6 miles from Dundee, 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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 19.1 and 63.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
19.1 mi into trip | ~21m 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
55.2 mi into trip | ~1h 2m 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
55.3 mi into trip | ~1h 2m 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
63.6 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
63.8 mi into trip | ~1h 12m 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

$11.76 one way

$23.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.91 $25.82
premium $4.89 $14.47 $28.94
diesel $5.61 $16.60 $33.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.6 0 $7.90 $3.61
Efficient EV 18.8 0 $6.58 $3.01
EV Truck/SUV 30.1 0 $10.53 $4.81

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Dundee, MI

Late night in Dundee on Tuesday

Local time

4:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sterling Heights, MI

Late night in Sterling Heights on Tuesday

Local time

4:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°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

1 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

1h 29m 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 high-speed experience, as 88% of this route takes place on major highways. You will spend your time navigating a combination of I-94, US-23, and the North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. The character of the drive is defined by its efficiency, with a longest uninterrupted stretch of 35.6 miles occurring on I-94. Because the majority of the distance is covered on interstates and freeways, the drive maintains a consistent, fast-paced rhythm. You shouldn't anticipate technical, winding local roads, as the route is clearly designed to prioritize speed and direct movement between your starting point and final destination.

88% 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 US 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.1 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 75.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 19.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

832 ft 576 ft

Total Climb

245 ft

Total Descent

298 ft

Highest Point

832 ft

~16.1 mi in

Elevation Range

256 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Dundee, MI and Sterling Heights, MI, road signs point toward Chicago, Airports, Toledo, Port Huron and Mound Road North.

Chicago

18.9 mi in | ~20m

Airports

19.1 mi in | ~21m

Toledo

55.2 mi in | ~1h 2m

Port Huron

63.6 mi in | ~1h 11m

Mound Road North

67.6 mi in | ~1h 17m | via I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road

About the Cities

Starting in Dundee, MI

Full guide →

Dundee is a village in Monroe County (Michigan).

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: 75.2 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 (88%). 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 19.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.3 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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