Origin
Sterling Heights, MI
Late night in Sterling Heights on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling Heights, MI to Northville, 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
34.8 mi
56 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 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
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.
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Northville, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 34.8-mile drive from Sterling Heights, MI, to Northville, MI, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 47 minutes, making it perfect for a single day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $5, it's an economical option for a short journey within the Midwest region. The route primarily utilizes major roadways, offering a consistent travel experience. Given its short duration and minimal stops recommended, this drive allows for a flexible schedule, whether you're heading out for an afternoon or a quick morning excursion. It’s a practical choice for local travel within Michigan.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 20 mi | 21m |
| Mound Road | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway | 2 mi | 2m |
| 8 Mile Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| 17 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Griswold Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Walter P Reuther Freeway
— 20 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights, MI and Northville, MI.
1
Start on 17 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
17 Mile Road
2
Turn right onto Mound Road
302 ft
·
5 sec
·
Mound Road
3
Continue on Mound Road
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Mound Road
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Mound Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Mound Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 696
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 1
Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
11
Merge onto I 275; I 96
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 167
Toward 8 Mile Road, Northville
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto 8 Mile Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
8 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Griswold Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Griswold Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Main Street
16
Turn left onto Hutton Street
162 ft
·
9 sec
·
Hutton Street
17
Turn right onto Mary Alexander Court
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Mary Alexander Court
18
Turn right onto South Center Street
216 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Center Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Center Street
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 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.4 miles from Sterling Heights, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 7.5 and 31.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
Keep slight right at fork onto Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West toward I 696 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
8
27.9 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
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 1
Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
6
28.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
6
29.1 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
8
31.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward 8 Mile Road, Northville
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 167
Toward 8 Mile Road, Northville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.44 one way
$10.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.97 | $11.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.70 | $13.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.68 | $15.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 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 | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
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
Northville, MI
Late night in Northville on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
21 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
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?
The drive offers a mixed experience, with 59% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate segments of the Walter P Reuther Freeway, Mound Road, and the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 20 miles on the Walter P Reuther Freeway, providing a period of consistent travel. Expect a blend of faster freeway driving and potentially more local road conditions as you progress, making for a varied, yet manageable, driving experience. The road character shifts but remains generally predictable.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20 mi on Walter P Reuther Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 7.5 miles in near Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 34.8 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 7.5 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Northville, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron and Toledo.
Port Huron
7.2 mi in
|
~11m
Toledo
29.1 mi in
|
~37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 34.8 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 (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20 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 Northville, 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 7.5 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Northville, 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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