Origin
Southfield, MI
Evening in Southfield on Friday
Local time
6:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southfield, 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
30m
Distance
17.2 mi
28 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southfield, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
This short, 17.2-mile drive between Southfield, MI, and Sterling Heights, MI, is easily manageable in about 30 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, including Mound Road and West 10 Mile Road, with a modest 14% highway share. Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged without being overly demanding. With a fuel cost estimated at $3, this is an economical option for a quick journey within the Midwest region. Since there are no recommended overnight stops and the drive is so brief, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 17.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
The character of this route is best described as a turn-heavy local drive. While only 14% of the journey is on highways, you’ll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 5.9 miles on Mound Road. This means you'll be navigating through city streets and intersections for much of the trip. The drive progresses by connecting various local roads, offering a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous highway cruise. Be prepared for frequent turns and traffic signals as you make your way from Southfield to Sterling Heights.
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.
Mound Road is the longest continuous segment at about 5.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.
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 17.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles (North Chrysler Drive): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (West 10 Mile Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
5.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
North Chrysler Drive
Turn left onto North Chrysler Drive
Navigation decision point
5
5.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
West 10 Mile Road
Keep slight right at fork onto West 10 Mile Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
9.6 mi into trip
|
~17m 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.
On the drive from Southfield, MI to Sterling Heights, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Mound Road North along the way.
Mound Road North
9.6 mi in
|
~17m
|
via I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mound Road | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| West 10 Mile Road | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| East Heights Drive | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| 17 Mile Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| I-696 East | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Walter P Reuther Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mound Road
— 5.9 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southfield, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.
1
Start on West 10 Mile Road
5.6 mi
·
10 min
·
West 10 Mile Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on South Chrysler Drive
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
South Chrysler Drive
3
Turn left
297 ft
·
16 sec
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto North Chrysler Drive
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Chrysler Drive
5
Keep slight right at fork onto West 10 Mile Road
499 ft
·
10 sec
·
West 10 Mile Road
6
Continue on East Heights Drive
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Heights Drive
7
Continue on Walter P Reuther Drive
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Walter P Reuther Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 696 East
9
Merge onto I 696
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
10
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.
11
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.
12
Turn straight onto Mound Road
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Mound Road
13
Turn right onto 17 Mile Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
17 Mile Road
14
Arrive at destination
17 Mile Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.69 one way
$5.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.95 | $5.90 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.31 | $6.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.80 | $7.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6 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 | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
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
Evening in Sterling Heights on Friday
Local time
6:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Widespread Fog
NNE 2 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 2:51AM EDT until April 17 at 10:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 2:46AM EDT until April 17 at 10:00AM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac 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
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
30m 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 Southfield, MI to Sterling Heights, MI covers 17.2 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mound Road, West 10 Mile Road, East Heights Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.6 miles from Southfield, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.69 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 17.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles (North Chrysler Drive): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (West 10 Mile Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Southfield, MI to Sterling Heights, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Mound Road North along the way.
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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