Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
42.6 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Westland, MI
fish socks
Sterling Heights to Westland is 42.6 miles and takes about 54 minutes via Walter P Reuther Freeway and Mound Road, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan's Midwest region, offering a straightforward commute between two suburban areas. You'll primarily navigate through developed landscapes, making it a practical option for a quick move or visit. Consider this route for its efficiency when you need to get from point A to point B without extensive travel time.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 20 mi | 21m |
| Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Mound Road | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| Ford Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| 17 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,746 veh/hr typical · worst 5,778
Quietest
2 AM
~267 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights, MI and Westland, MI.
Start on 17 Mile Road
Turn right onto Mound Road
Continue on Mound Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Mound Road
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork onto Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
Merge onto I 696
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 275; I 96
Take the exit
Turn left onto M 153
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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.
A short stop after about 42.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.3 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.5 and 39.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward M 153: Canton, Westland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$6.60 one way
$13.21 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $7.24 | $14.48 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.27 | $16.53 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $9.39 | $18.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.73 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.73 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Sterling Heights on Saturday
Local time
4:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Westland on Saturday
Local time
4:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This drive is a mix of highway and surface roads, with 48% of the route on freeways. You'll experience a continuous 20-mile stretch on the Walter P Reuther Freeway before transitioning to surface streets. Expect to encounter numerous exits and entrances during the highway portion, typical of urban and suburban freeway travel.
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.
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 11 decision points packed into just 42.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
249 ft
Total Descent
197 ft
Highest Point
853 ft
~30.3 mi in
Elevation Range
243 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sterling Heights, MI and Westland, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron, Toledo and M 153: Canton.
Port Huron
Toledo
M 153: Canton
Founded 1966
Westland is a city in Wayne County in the state of Michigan.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 42.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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