Origin
Northville, MI
Late night in Northville on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northville, 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
55m
Distance
33.8 mi
54 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northville, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
This 33.8-mile drive from Northville to Sterling Heights in Michigan is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 55 minutes. It's a perfect option for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. Expect to spend around $5 on fuel for this journey. The route primarily utilizes major roads like Walter P Reuther Freeway, West Big Beaver Road, and Telegraph Road, offering a mixed driving experience. Given that both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, you won't be crossing any major geographical or cultural divides.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Novi Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Metropolitan Parkway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Mound Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| 17 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P Reuther Freeway
— 8.9 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northville, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.
1
Start on North Center Street
27 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Center Street
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
161 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn right
235 ft
·
18 sec
4
Turn right
202 ft
·
16 sec
5
At end of road, turn right onto Dunlap Street
225 ft
·
16 sec
·
Dunlap Street
6
Turn left onto North Center Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Center Street
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto West 8 Mile Road
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
West 8 Mile Road
8
Turn left onto Novi Road
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Novi Road
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 96 East: Detroit
10
Merge onto I 96
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 96
11
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.
12
Merge onto M 10
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
John C Lodge Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 18A
Toward US 24 North: Telegraph Road
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on US 24
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Telegraph Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Quarton Road
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Quarton Road
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on West Big Beaver Road
6.9 mi
·
12 min
·
West Big Beaver Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on Metropolitan Parkway
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Metropolitan Parkway
18
Continue on Metropolitan Parkway
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Metropolitan Parkway
19
Turn right onto Mound Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Mound Road
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto 17 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
17 Mile Road
21
Arrive at destination
17 Mile Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Northville, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 31.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Dunlap Street
At end of road, turn right onto Dunlap Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Center Street
Turn left onto North Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
14.4 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
5
19.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Quarton Road
Turn right onto Quarton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
31.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Mound Road
Turn right onto Mound Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.28 one way
$10.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.80 | $11.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.50 | $13.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.46 | $14.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.96 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Late night in Sterling Heights on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 8 to 12 mph
73% 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
6 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
55m 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 presents a mixed profile, with about 36% of the total distance on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Walter P Reuther Freeway, including an uninterrupted segment of 8.9 miles, suggesting periods of faster, more consistent travel. Interspersed with these freeway sections will be drives along West Big Beaver Road and Telegraph Road, which likely involve more local traffic and traffic signals. The character of the road will shift between smooth, higher-speed driving and more stop-and-go conditions as you navigate through different types of terrain.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.9 mi on Walter P Reuther Freeway.
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 0.1 miles in near Dunlap Street.
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 15 decision points packed into just 33.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Dunlap Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (North Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Northville, MI to Sterling Heights, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 5 East: Port Huron along the way.
M 5 East: Port Huron
5.1 mi in
|
~10m
|
via I 696
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 33.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.9 miles on Walter P Reuther Freeway. 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 0.1 miles (Dunlap Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (North Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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