Origin
Ferndale, MI
Late night in Ferndale on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ferndale, 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
24m
Distance
14.1 mi
23 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ferndale, MI
fish socks
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
Ferndale, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is 14.1 miles and takes about 24 minutes via Mound Road and the Walter P Reuther Freeway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, short drive within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Michigan. Expect a mixed drive profile, meaning you'll encounter both highway speeds and local road conditions. Given its brief duration, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing ample time for your destination activities without feeling rushed. It's a practical hop for anyone needing to travel between these nearby communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mound Road | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| West 9 Mile Road | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| 17 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| I-75 North to I-696 East | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I-696 East | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mound Road
— 5.9 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ferndale, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.
1
Start on West 9 Mile Road
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
West 9 Mile Road
2
Turn right onto John R Road
401 ft
·
11 sec
·
John R Road
3
Turn right onto North Chrysler Drive
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Chrysler Drive
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 75 North
5
Merge onto I 75
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 61
Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
7
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.
8
Continue on I 696
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
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.
11
Turn straight onto Mound Road
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Mound Road
12
Turn right onto 17 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
17 Mile Road
13
Arrive at destination
17 Mile Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 6.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
John R Road
Turn right onto John R Road
Navigation decision point
8
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
7
6.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I-696 East
Take the exit onto I-696 East toward Mound Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward Mound Road
7
6.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road toward Mound Road North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Mound Road North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.20 one way
$4.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.42 | $4.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.71 | $5.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.11 | $6.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.48 | $0.68 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.23 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Sunny
ESE 2 to 8 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 9:56AM EDT until April 17 at 10:00AM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 9:29AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
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
4 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
24m 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 drive offers a mixed experience, with 35% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced travel, particularly on the Walter P Reuther Freeway, balanced with sections on local roads like Mound Road and West 9 Mile Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 5.9 miles on Mound Road, providing a consistent pace before transitions. As you progress, you'll notice the shift from more urban-feeling roads to those that might feel more suburban or commercial depending on the specific segment. It's a drive that keeps you engaged with varied road types.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.9 mi on Mound Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 1.6 miles in near John R Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 14.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (John R Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I-75 North to I-696 East): 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 Ferndale, MI and Sterling Heights, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron and Mound Road North.
Port Huron
2.5 mi in
|
~6m
Mound Road North
6.5 mi in
|
~11m
|
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 24m. Total distance: 14.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.9 miles on Mound Road. 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 1.6 miles (John R Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I-75 North to I-696 East): 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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