Origin
Ortonville, MI
Late night in Ortonville on Sunday
Local time
12:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ortonville, 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
47m
Distance
36.6 mi
59 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ortonville, MI
fish socks
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
Ortonville, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is 36.6 miles and takes about 47m via I-75 South and M 59, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip connecting two points within the Midwest region, specifically in Michigan. The drive offers a mixed experience, blending highway speeds with local road navigation. It's a relatively short journey, making it ideal for a quick errand or an easy connection between these two communities without requiring an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I-75 South | 13.5 mi | 14m |
| M 59 | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| South Ortonville Road | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| Mound Road | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| 17 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Dobry Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Mill Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I-75 South
— 13.5 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ortonville, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.
1
Start on Mill Street
463 ft
·
21 sec
·
Mill Street
2
Turn left onto South Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Street
3
Turn slight left onto M 15
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
South Ortonville Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 75
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I-75 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 77A
Toward M 59 East: Utica
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto M 59
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
M 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 50
Toward Mound Road, Merrill Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Dobry Drive
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Dobry Drive
10
Turn right onto Mound Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Mound Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on Mound Road
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Mound Road
12
Turn right onto 17 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
17 Mile Road
13
Arrive at destination
17 Mile Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Ortonville, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 32.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Detroit
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 75 South: Detroit
5
8.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 75 / I-75 South
Merge onto I 75 / I-75 South
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward M 59 East: Utica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 77A
Toward M 59 East: Utica
8
31.6 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward Mound Road, Merrill Road
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 50
Toward Mound Road, Merrill Road
6
32.1 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
Mound Road
Turn right onto Mound Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.72 one way
$11.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.28 | $12.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.04 | $14.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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
12:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
3 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
47m 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?
This route is characterized by a mixed drive, with about 37% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on major roads like I-75 South, where you can maintain higher speeds for about 13.5 miles. The remainder of the drive will likely involve navigating local roads such as South Ortonville Road and M 59, which may offer more varied traffic conditions and lower speed limits. Expect the feel of the drive to shift from more open highway travel to more built-up areas as you approach Sterling Heights.
37% 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: 13.5 mi on I-75 South.
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 8 miles in.
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 36.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (I 75 / I-75 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.8 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 Ortonville, MI to Sterling Heights, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 59 East: Utica along the way.
M 59 East: Utica
21.8 mi in
|
~28m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 36.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.5 miles on I-75 South. 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 8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (I 75 / I-75 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.8 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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