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Trip from Sterling Heights, MI to Auburn, MI

Drive Time

1h 57m

Distance

105.5 mi

170 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 49m ★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Sterling Heights, MI, MI

Sterling Heights, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

The drive from Sterling Heights, MI to Auburn, MI covers 105.5 miles and takes about 1h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, M 59, US 10 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 84.1 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.02 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

52.7 miles from Sterling Heights, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 57m highway drive covering 105.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and M 59. The longest continuous stretch is about 84.1 miles on I 75.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 84.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and M 59. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in near M-59 Service Drive.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 105.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.4 miles (M-59 Service Drive): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
4.4 mi into trip | ~7m in | M-59 Service Drive

Turn right onto M-59 Service Drive

Navigation decision point

7
14.1 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward I 75 North: Flint

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 40B Toward I 75 North: Flint
5
47.4 mi into trip | ~54m in | I 75

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 75: Saginaw
5
98.7 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Take the exit toward US 10 West: Midland

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 162B Toward US 10 West: Midland
4
104.9 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in

Take the exit toward Nine Mile Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward Nine Mile Road

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 84.1 mi 1h 30m
M 59 9.1 mi 9m
US 10 6 mi 6m
Mound Road 3.4 mi 5m
17 Mile Road 1 mi 1m
South Auburn Street 0.4 mi 1m
M-59 Service Drive 0.2 mi <1m
West Midland Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 84.1 mi, about 1h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights, MI and Auburn, MI.

1

Start on 17 Mile Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · 17 Mile Road
2

Turn right onto Mound Road

3.2 mi · 5 min · Mound Road
3

Continue on Mound Road

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Mound Road
4

Turn right onto M-59 Service Drive

0.2 mi · 24 sec · M-59 Service Drive
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward M 59 West
6

Merge onto M 59

9.1 mi · 9 min · M 59
7

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 40B Toward I 75 North: Flint Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 75

33 mi · 35 min · I 75
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

51 mi · 54 min · I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Exit 162B Toward US 10 West: Midland
11

Continue on US 10

6.0 mi · 6 min · US 10
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward Nine Mile Road
13

Turn right onto South Auburn Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Auburn Street
14

Turn left onto West Midland Street

84 ft · 1 sec · West Midland Street
15

Arrive at destination

West Midland Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.7 miles from Sterling Heights, MI, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.1 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 52.7 miles or 1h in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, MI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Sterling Heights, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Sterling Heights, MI

This is one driving day of about 105.5 miles and 1h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sterling Heights, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 84.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 52.7 mi from Sterling Heights, MI · 1h into the drive

Downtown Canton, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Canton, MI

53 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

Ann Arbor, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ann Arbor, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.7 miles from Sterling Heights, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.1 miles.

Arriving in Auburn, MI

The final approach into Auburn, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Auburn, MI.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.02 one way

$32.05 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $17.67 $35.33
premium $4.80 $19.92 $39.83
diesel $5.64 $23.44 $46.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.7 0 $11.08 $5.06
Efficient EV 26.4 0 $9.23 $4.22
EV Truck/SUV 42.2 0 $14.77 $6.75

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Sterling Heights, MI

Morning in Sterling Heights on Monday

Local time

8:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Partly Sunny

WSW 12 to 15 mph 14% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued April 13 at 5:02AM EDT until April 13 at 9:15AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued April 13 at 3:28AM EDT until April 13 at 3:30PM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Destination

Auburn, MI

Morning in Auburn on Monday

Local time

8:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

36 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

1h 57m 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 Sterling Heights, MI to Auburn, MI covers 105.5 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, M 59, US 10. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.7 miles from Sterling Heights, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.02 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 105.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.4 miles (M-59 Service Drive): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Sterling Heights, MI to Auburn, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Auburn, MI to Sterling Heights, MI

Plan the drive back the other way.

107.1 mi 1h 38m

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