Origin
North Branch, MI
Night in North Branch on Friday
Local time
11:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Branch, MI to Sterling Heights, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
53.4 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Branch, MI
Tom Fisk
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
North Branch, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is 53.4 miles and takes about 1h 12m via Van Dyke Road, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This local drive stays within Michigan, connecting two Midwest communities. Expect a straightforward trip with minimal highway driving. With just over an hour on the road, this route is ideal for a quick day trip or an easy commute, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 53.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with no highway segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44 miles along Van Dyke Road. As you travel, you'll primarily be on roads like Van Dyke Road, North Branch Road, and North Cedar Street. Be prepared for frequent turns and a slower pace compared to highway travel. This is a truly local experience, immersing you in the communities along the way.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Van Dyke Road is the longest continuous segment at about 44 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in near M 53; M 90 / Van Dyke Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 12m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6 miles (M 53; M 90 / Van Dyke Road): Navigation decision point; at 53 miles (17 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
M 53; M 90 / Van Dyke Road
At end of road, turn right onto M 53; M 90 / Van Dyke Road
Navigation decision point
5
53 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
17 Mile Road
Turn right onto 17 Mile Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
6
53.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
17 Mile Road
At end of road, turn left onto 17 Mile Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Van Dyke Road | 44 mi | 56m |
| North Branch Road | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| North Cedar Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Huron Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 17 Mile Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Van Dyke Road
— 44 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Branch, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.
1
Start on M 90
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Huron Street
2
Continue on M 90
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
North Branch Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto M 53; M 90
14 mi
·
18 min
·
Van Dyke Road
4
Continue on M 53
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Cedar Street
5
Continue on M 53
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Van Dyke Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto M 53
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
7
Continue on M 53
25 mi
·
30 min
·
Van Dyke Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto 17 Mile Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
17 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn right
135 ft
·
15 sec
10
Turn left
216 ft
·
16 sec
11
Turn right
133 ft
·
11 sec
12
Turn right
197 ft
·
19 sec
13
At end of road, turn left onto 17 Mile Road
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
17 Mile Road
14
Arrive at destination
17 Mile Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.7 mi from North Branch, MI · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from North Branch, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sterling Heights, MI
The final approach into Sterling Heights, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.35 one way
$16.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.17 | $18.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.28 | $20.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.79 | $23.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Night in Sterling Heights on Friday
Local time
11:38 PM
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
7 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
1h 12m 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 North Branch, MI to Sterling Heights, MI covers 53.4 miles and takes about 1h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Van Dyke Road, North Branch Road, North Cedar Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.7 miles from North Branch, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.35 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 straightforward 1h 12m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 6 miles (M 53; M 90 / Van Dyke Road): Navigation decision point; at 53 miles (17 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from North Branch, MI to Sterling Heights, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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