Origin
Sterling Heights, MI
Morning in Sterling Heights on Tuesday
Local time
8:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling Heights, MI to Woodhaven, 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
1h
Distance
47.6 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Woodhaven, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Sterling Heights to Woodhaven is 47.6 miles and takes about 1 hour via Fisher Freeway and I-75, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip is a straightforward drive within Michigan's Midwest region. You'll mostly be on well-traveled freeways, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. Given the short duration and minimal stops, it's ideal for a same-day trip without much planning needed. Consider this route for its simplicity and efficiency.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fisher Freeway | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| I 75 | 7.2 mi | 9m |
| Mound Road | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| Detroit-Toledo Expressway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| 17 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| I-696 West to I-75 South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Fisher Freeway
— 12.2 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights, MI and Woodhaven, 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
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-696 West to I-75 South
Toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 75
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75: Toledo
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Fisher Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 75
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Detroit-Toledo Expressway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 29A
Toward Gibraltar
Use the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto Gibraltar Road
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Gibraltar Road
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 75 North: Detroit
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto I 75
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
I 75
18
Arrive at destination
I 75
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 7.5 and 43.9 — 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
11 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
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 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
8
11.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I-696 West to I-75 South
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 South toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Detroit, Toledo
7
21.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 75
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 75: Toledo
7
43.9 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward Gibraltar
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 29A
Toward Gibraltar
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.44 one way
$14.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.17 | $16.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.16 | $18.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Woodhaven, MI
Morning in Woodhaven on Tuesday
Local time
8:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 82% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll spend a good portion of the 1 hour on the Fisher Freeway and I-75. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 12.2 miles on the Fisher Freeway. Expect a consistent driving experience characterized by steady highway speeds for most of the 47.6 miles. The road primarily consists of multi-lane, high-speed corridors designed for efficient travel.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.2 mi on Fisher Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Fisher Freeway and South Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. 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
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 7.5 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.2 miles (I-696 West to I-75 South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Woodhaven, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron, Flint, Toledo and Gibraltar.
Port Huron
7.2 mi in
|
~11m
Flint
11 mi in
|
~16m
Toledo
11.2 mi in
|
~17m
|
via I-696 West to I-75 South
Gibraltar
43.9 mi in
|
~55m
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 1h. Total distance: 47.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on Fisher 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 Woodhaven, 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 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.2 miles (I-696 West to I-75 South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Woodhaven, 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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