The drive from Sterling Heights, MI to Dearborn Heights, MI covers 30.4 miles and takes about 45m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Walter P Reuther Freeway, Mound Road, Southfield Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.8 miles on Walter P Reuther Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.75 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 30.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Sterling Heights, MI to Dearborn Heights, MI covers 30.4 miles and takes about 45m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Walter P Reuther Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.8 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 7.5 miles in near Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West.
Driving Effort10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 30.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.5 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
7.5 mi into trip|~12m in|Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
Keep slight right at fork onto Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West toward I 696 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
7
15.6 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward Greenfield Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward Greenfield Road
8
23.5 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 96: Downtown Detroit, Lansing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11A
Toward I 96: Downtown Detroit, Lansing
8
23.7 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 96 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 96 West: Lansing
7
26.6 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward US 24: Telegraph Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 179
Toward US 24: Telegraph Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sterling Heights, MI and Dearborn Heights, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron and Lansing.
Port Huron
7.2 mi in|~11m
Lansing
23.5 mi in|~34m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Walter P Reuther Freeway
7.8 mi
8m
Mound Road
6.2 mi
10m
Southfield Freeway
5.5 mi
7m
Telegraph Road
3.1 mi
5m
Jeffries Freeway (Local)
2.5 mi
3m
17 Mile Road
1 mi
1m
West 10 Mile Road
1 mi
2m
Southfield Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Walter P Reuther Freeway
— 7.8 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights, MI and Dearborn Heights, MI.
1
Start on 17 Mile Road
1.0 mi·1 min·17 Mile Road
2
Turn right onto Mound Road
302 ft·5 sec·Mound Road
3
Continue on Mound Road
6.0 mi·9 min·Mound Road
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Mound Road
0.2 mi·16 sec·Mound Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
0.4 mi·50 sec·Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
Toward I 696 West: LansingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 696
7.8 mi·8 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 13Toward Greenfield RoadUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Greenfield Road
0.3 mi·45 sec·Greenfield Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto West 10 Mile Road
1.0 mi·2 min·West 10 Mile Road
11
Turn left onto Southfield Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Southfield Road
12
Continue on Southfield Freeway
5.5 mi·7 min·Southfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 11AToward I 96: Downtown Detroit, LansingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 96 West: LansingUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 96
2.5 mi·3 min·Jeffries Freeway (Local)
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 179Toward US 24: Telegraph RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Schoolcraft Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·Schoolcraft Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn left onto Telegraph Drive
0.3 mi·34 sec·Telegraph Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn straight onto US 24
3.1 mi·5 min·Telegraph Road
20
Turn slight left
15 ft·0 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.2 mi from Sterling Heights, MI
· 21m into the drive
The midpoint is around 15.2 miles from Sterling Heights, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dearborn Heights, MI
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Dearborn Heights, MI if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.75 one way
$9.51 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg11 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$5.22
$10.44
premium
$4.89
$5.85
$11.70
diesel
$5.61
$6.71
$13.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
9.1
0
$3.19
$1.46
Efficient EV
7.6
0
$2.66
$1.22
EV Truck/SUV
12.2
0
$4.26
$1.95
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Sterling Heights, MI
Evening
in Sterling Heights on Friday
Local time
7:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Widespread Fog
NNE 2 mph2% chanceLive 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
Destination
Dearborn Heights, MI
Evening
in Dearborn Heights on Friday
Local time
7:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Widespread Fog
NNE 2 mph0% chanceLive 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
1 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
45m 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 Dearborn Heights, MI covers 30.4 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Walter P Reuther Freeway, Mound Road, Southfield Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.2 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 $4.75 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 15 decision points packed into just 30.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.5 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Sterling Heights, MI and Dearborn Heights, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron and Lansing.
