Sterling Heights, MI to Leland, MI is 260.4 miles and takes about 5h 17m via I 75 and US 10, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Michigan, taking you from the Detroit metro area north through the Midwest. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that makes for an efficient drive up to Northern Michigan. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way to your destination. This is a practical choice if you're looking for a no-fuss drive to the lake Michigan coast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
130.2 miles from Sterling Heights, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
84.1 mi
1h 30m
US 10
56.9 mi
56m
Cadillac Drive
55.3 mi
1h 16m
County Road 633
10.9 mi
17m
M 59
9.1 mi
9m
North M-37 Highway
6.9 mi
9m
South Good Harbor Trail
6.5 mi
8m
South Manitou Trail
5.8 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 84.1 mi, about 1h 30m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 29 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,726 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,720
Quietest
2 AM
~137 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights, MI and Leland, MI.
1
Start on 17 Mile Road
1.0 mi·1 min·17 Mile Road
2
Turn right onto Mound Road
3.2 mi·5 min·Mound Road
3
Continue on Mound Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·Mound Road
4
Turn right onto M-59 Service Drive
0.2 mi·24 sec·M-59 Service Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward M 59 West
6
Merge onto M 59
9.1 mi·9 min·M 59
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 40BToward I 75 North: FlintUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 75
33 mi·35 min·I 75
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
51 mi·54 min·I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 162BToward US 10 West: Midland
11
Continue on US 10
11 mi·11 min·US 10
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
38 mi·38 min·US 10
Toward US 10: Clare
13
Take the exit onto US 10
7.6 mi·7 min·US 10
Toward US 10 WEST, TO M 115: Ludington, Cadillac
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward M 115: Cadillac
15
Turn right onto M 115
55 mi·1 hr 16 min·Cadillac Drive
16
Enter roundabout onto M 37
26 ft·0 sec·North M-37 Highway
17
Continue on M 37
6.9 mi·9 min·North M-37 Highway
18
Turn left onto North 13 Road
0.7 mi·1 min·North 13 Road
19
Continue on CR 633
11 mi·17 min·County Road 633
20
Continue on CR 633
3.7 mi·5 min·South West Silver Lake Road
21
Turn left onto Secor Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Secor Road
22
Turn right onto East Long Lake Road
2.1 mi·2 min·East Long Lake Road
23
At end of road, turn left onto CR 610
0.1 mi·12 sec·North Long Lake Road
24
Turn right onto Strait Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Strait Road
25
At end of road, turn left onto Cedar Run Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Cedar Run Road
26
Turn right onto Tilton Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Tilton Road
27
At end of road, turn left onto M 72
1.0 mi·1 min·East Traverse Highway
28
Turn right onto CR 651
5.3 mi·8 min·South Cedar Road
29
Continue on CR 651
0.4 mi·39 sec·Kasson Street
30
Continue on CR 651
6.5 mi·8 min·South Good Harbor Trail
31
At end of road, turn right onto M 22
5.8 mi·8 min·South Manitou Trail
32
Continue on M 22
0.4 mi·53 sec·South Main Street
33
Turn right onto River Street
80 ft·3 sec·River Street
34
Arrive at destination
River Street
Trip Plan
For this 5h 17m drive, consider leaving Sterling Heights in the morning to maximize daylight. With a total distance of 260.4 miles, it's designed for a single-day trip, so you won't need to break it up. There's one recommended stop, which should be plenty of time for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel; budgeting around $41 is advised, and it's always smart to fill up before you hit longer stretches, especially before exiting I 75. Since you're staying within Michigan, ensure your vehicle is ready for the varying road conditions.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 130.2 miles from Sterling Heights, MI, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 57 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.2 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leland, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sterling Heights, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sterling Heights, MI
This is one driving day of about 260.4 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Sterling Heights, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 84.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.4 and 110.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in|M-59 Service Drive
Turn right onto M-59 Service Drive
Navigation decision point
7
14.1 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 75 North: Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40B
Toward I 75 North: Flint
5
47.4 mi into trip|~54m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75: Saginaw
5
98.7 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 10 West: Midland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 162B
Toward US 10 West: Midland
5
110.2 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10: Clare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 10: Clare
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.46 one way
$76.91 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$42.45
$84.91
premium
$4.72
$48.35
$96.70
diesel
$4.80
$49.17
$98.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.1
0
$27.34
$12.50
Efficient EV
65.1
0
$22.79
$10.42
EV Truck/SUV
104.2
1
$36.46
$16.67
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Sterling Heights, MI
Late night
in Sterling Heights on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 8 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:56AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac MI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:01AM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Destination
Leland, MI
Late night
in Leland on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 15 mph36% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:56AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac MI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:01AM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
83°F
Edenville, MI
130 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacula...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$25
near mile 251.4
Caution: May Prescribed Fire in Platte Plains Area
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 54% of this drive is on highways, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 84.1 miles on I 75. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads after this. Expect a noticeable change in pace and traffic flow as you leave the interstate system. The mix of road types means you'll encounter both quicker travel and more local traffic.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 24 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in near M-59 Service Drive.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 260.4 miles you will encounter 24 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 4.4 miles (M-59 Service Drive): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,434 ft587 ft
Total Climb
1,208 ft
Total Descent
1,224 ft
Highest Point
1,434 ft
~186 mi in
Elevation Range
847 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sterling Heights, MI and Leland, MI, road signs point toward To M 115: Ludington, Cadillac and M 115: Cadillac.
Leland is a village in Leelanau County, Michigan (also known as the Leelanau Peninsula on the shore of Lake Michigan. Leland is the site of the oldest and largest Ottawa village on the Leelanau Peninsula named Mishi-me-go-bing, "the place where canoes run up into the river to land, because they have no harbor". European settlement began when the Antoine Manseau family came from North Manitou Island in 1853.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 260.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Leland, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.4 miles (M-59 Service Drive): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Leland, MI before the return drive.
