Origin
Sterling Heights, MI
Late night in Sterling Heights on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling Heights, MI to Macomb, 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
17m
Distance
11.9 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Sterling Heights and Macomb, Michigan, this 11.9-mile journey is as straightforward as it gets. Expect to spend about 17 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight planning. Navigating the route is simple, primarily utilizing M 53, 23 Mile Road, and Garfield Road to get you to your destination. With a modest fuel budget of just $2, it is a highly economical way to travel within the Midwest. Since the entire trip is local, you can easily complete it in a single outing without needing to budget for rest stops or food breaks.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| M 53 | 5 mi | 5m |
| 23 Mile Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Garfield Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Van Dyke Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 17 Mile Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| New Bradford Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fanning Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
M 53
— 5 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights, MI and Macomb, MI.
1
Start on 17 Mile Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
17 Mile Road
2
Turn right onto Fanning Road
225 ft
·
13 sec
·
Fanning Road
3
Turn right onto New Bradford Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
New Bradford Boulevard
4
At end of road, turn right onto M 53
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Van Dyke Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto M 53
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
M 53
Toward M 53 North: Imlay City
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 20A
Toward 23 Mile Road East
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto 23 Mile Road
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
23 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto Garfield Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Garfield Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Enter roundabout
181 ft
·
4 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 9.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Fanning Road
Turn right onto Fanning Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
M 53 / Van Dyke Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto M 53 / Van Dyke Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
M 53
Keep slight right at fork onto M 53 toward M 53 North: Imlay City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward M 53 North: Imlay City
7
6.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward 23 Mile Road East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20A
Toward 23 Mile Road East
6
9.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
Garfield Road
Turn left onto Garfield Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.86 one way
$3.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.04 | $4.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.29 | $4.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.63 | $5.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Macomb, MI
Late night in Macomb on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 to 12 mph
90% 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
8 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
17m 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 trip is best described as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul. You will find that 0% of this route takes place on major highways, meaning you should be prepared for frequent intersections and standard traffic flow. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 5-mile segment on M 53. Because the path relies on local roads, the pace remains consistent and predictable throughout the 17-minute duration. Expect a functional driving experience that focuses on navigating suburban infrastructure rather than open-road cruising.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5 mi on M 53.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Fanning Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 11.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (Fanning Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (M 53 / Van Dyke Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (M 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Sterling Heights, MI and Macomb, MI, road signs point toward M 53 North: Imlay City and 23 Mile Road East.
M 53 North: Imlay City
1.7 mi in
|
~3m
|
via M 53
23 Mile Road East
6.7 mi in
|
~9m
About the Cities
Starting 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 17m. Total distance: 11.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5 miles on M 53. 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 Macomb, 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 0.2 miles (Fanning Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (M 53 / Van Dyke Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (M 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Macomb, 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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