Origin
Orchard Lake, MI
Late night in Orchard Lake on Saturday
Local time
2:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Orchard Lake, 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
32m
Distance
18.3 mi
29 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Orchard Lake, MI
Sean Ewing
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion within Michigan, the 18.3-mile trip from Orchard Lake to Sterling Heights is a straightforward commute. Clocking in at approximately 32 minutes, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate primarily via West Long Lake Road, East Long Lake Road, and 17 Mile Road. With a fuel budget of just $3, this is an incredibly economical journey across the Midwest. Since the entire drive stays within the same region, you can expect a familiar, consistent atmosphere from start to finish.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 18.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m 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
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Because the highway share is 0%, you won't be dealing with high-speed freeway traffic, but rather a series of local connectors. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 8.3-mile segment on East Long Lake Road. The route transitions steadily through residential and local zones, requiring consistent attention to turns. It is a practical, no-frills trek that relies on local navigation rather than highway speeds.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 5 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Long Lake Road is the longest continuous segment at about 8.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Long Lake Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Orchard Lake, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is easy. At 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Long Lake Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles (Dequindre Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (17 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Long Lake Road
Depart onto West Long Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
14.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Dequindre Road
Turn right onto Dequindre Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
15.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
17 Mile Road
Turn left onto 17 Mile Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Long Lake Road | 8.3 mi | 15m |
| West Long Lake Road | 6 mi | 10m |
| 17 Mile Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| Dequindre Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
East Long Lake Road
— 8.3 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orchard Lake, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.
1
Start on West Long Lake Road
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
West Long Lake Road
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on East Long Lake Road
8.3 mi
·
15 min
·
East Long Lake Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto Dequindre Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Dequindre Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto 17 Mile Road
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
17 Mile Road
Use the left lane.
5
Arrive at destination
17 Mile Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.86 one way
$5.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.14 | $6.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.52 | $7.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.04 | $8.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Sterling Heights, MI
Late night in Sterling Heights on Saturday
Local time
2:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 10 mph
84% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:59PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:58PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
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
27 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
32m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Orchard Lake, MI to Sterling Heights, MI covers 18.3 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Long Lake Road, West Long Lake Road, 17 Mile Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.2 miles from Orchard Lake, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.86 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.
The drive from Orchard Lake, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is easy. At 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Long Lake Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles (Dequindre Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (17 Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Orchard Lake, 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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