Origin
Ferndale, MI
Morning in Ferndale on Friday
Local time
10:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ferndale, MI to Sterling Heights, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
14.1 mi
23 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ferndale, MI
fish socks
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
Ferndale, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is 14.1 miles and takes about 24 minutes via Mound Road and the Walter P Reuther Freeway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, short drive within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Michigan. Expect a mixed drive profile, meaning you'll encounter both highway speeds and local road conditions. Given its brief duration, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing ample time for your destination activities without feeling rushed. It's a practical hop for anyone needing to travel between these nearby communities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 14.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 35% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced travel, particularly on the Walter P Reuther Freeway, balanced with sections on local roads like Mound Road and West 9 Mile Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 5.9 miles on Mound Road, providing a consistent pace before transitions. As you progress, you'll notice the shift from more urban-feeling roads to those that might feel more suburban or commercial depending on the specific segment. It's a drive that keeps you engaged with varied road types.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mound Road is the longest continuous segment at about 5.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 1.6 miles in near John R Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 14.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (John R Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I-75 North to I-696 East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
John R Road
Turn right onto John R Road
Navigation decision point
8
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
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 61
Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
7
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I-75 North to I-696 East
Keep slight right at fork onto I-75 North to I-696 East toward I 696 East: Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 696 East: Port Huron
7
6.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I-696 East
Take the exit onto I-696 East toward Mound Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward Mound Road
7
6.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road toward Mound Road North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Mound Road North
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ferndale, MI and Sterling Heights, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron and Mound Road North.
Port Huron
2.5 mi in
|
~6m
Mound Road North
6.5 mi in
|
~11m
|
via I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mound Road | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| West 9 Mile Road | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| 17 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| I-75 North to I-696 East | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I-696 East | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mound Road
— 5.9 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ferndale, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.
1
Start on West 9 Mile Road
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
West 9 Mile Road
2
Turn right onto John R Road
401 ft
·
11 sec
·
John R Road
3
Turn right onto North Chrysler Drive
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Chrysler Drive
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 75 North
5
Merge onto I 75
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 61
Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I-75 North to I-696 East
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I-75 North to I-696 East
Toward I 696 East: Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 696
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I-696 East
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
I-696 East
Exit 22
Toward Mound Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road
Toward Mound Road North
Use the slight left lane.
11
Turn straight onto Mound Road
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Mound Road
12
Turn right onto 17 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
17 Mile Road
13
Arrive at destination
17 Mile Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.20 one way
$4.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.42 | $4.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.71 | $5.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.11 | $6.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.48 | $0.68 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.23 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Sterling Heights, MI
Morning in Sterling Heights on Friday
Local time
10:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
24m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ferndale, MI to Sterling Heights, MI covers 14.1 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mound Road, Walter P Reuther Freeway, West 9 Mile Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.1 miles from Ferndale, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.20 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 14.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (John R Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I-75 North to I-696 East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Ferndale, MI and Sterling Heights, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron and Mound Road North.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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