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Trip from Sterling Heights, MI to Parma, MI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 55m

Distance

99.8 mi

161 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 47m ★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m

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

Downtown Sterling Heights, MI, MI

Sterling Heights, MI

fish socks

Downtown Parma, MI, MI

Parma, MI

Castorly Stock

Trip Overview

The drive from Sterling Heights, MI to Parma, MI covers 99.8 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 94, M 14, Walter P Reuther Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.60 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.

Midpoint

49.9 miles from Sterling Heights, MI

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

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 99.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 55m highway drive covering 99.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and M 14. The longest continuous stretch is about 41 miles on I 94.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 41 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and M 14. 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 Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 99.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 7.5 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
8
27.9 mi into trip | ~34m in

Take the exit toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 1 Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
6
28.3 mi into trip | ~35m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
6
29.1 mi into trip | ~37m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
8
52.4 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | M 14

Keep slight left at fork onto M 14 toward M 14: Ann Arbor

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 45 Toward M 14: Ann Arbor

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 Parma, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron, Toledo and M 14: Ann Arbor.

Port Huron

7.2 mi in | ~11m

Toledo

29.1 mi in | ~37m

M 14: Ann Arbor

35.3 mi in | ~44m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 41 mi 43m
M 14 21.9 mi 23m
Walter P Reuther Freeway 20 mi 21m
Mound Road 6.2 mi 10m
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway 5.8 mi 6m
17 Mile Road 1 mi 1m
North Parma Road 0.5 mi 1m
Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 41 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights, MI and Parma, 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: Lansing Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 696

20 mi · 21 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 1 Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
11

Merge onto I 275; I 96

5.8 mi · 6 min · Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
12

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward M 14: Ann Arbor Use the slight right lane.
13

Merge onto M 14

17 mi · 17 min · M 14
14

Keep slight left at fork onto M 14

5.4 mi · 5 min · M 14
Exit 45 Toward M 14: Ann Arbor Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Merge onto I 94

41 mi · 43 min · I 94
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward Parma
17

Turn left onto North Parma Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Parma Road
18

Continue on North Union Street

0.3 mi · 55 sec · North Union Street
19

Arrive at destination

South Union 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 49.9 miles from Sterling Heights, MI, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41 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 22 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 49.9 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 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parma, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Sterling Heights, MI

This is one driving day of about 99.8 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Sterling Heights, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 41 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 49.9 mi from Sterling Heights, MI · 1h into the drive

city in Michigan, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Northville, MI

50 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

Farmington Hills, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ann Arbor, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.9 miles from Sterling Heights, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Parma, MI

The final approach into Parma, 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

$15.60 one way

$31.21 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.13 $34.26
premium $4.89 $19.21 $38.41
diesel $5.61 $22.03 $44.07

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: 34.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.9 0 $10.48 $4.79
Efficient EV 25 0 $8.73 $3.99
EV Truck/SUV 39.9 0 $13.97 $6.39

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Sterling Heights, MI

Evening in Sterling Heights on Thursday

Local time

5:18 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Parma, MI

Evening in Parma on Thursday

Local time

5:18 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°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

2 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 55m 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 Sterling Heights, MI to Parma, MI covers 99.8 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, M 14, Walter P Reuther Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.9 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 $15.60 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 99.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 7.5 miles (Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Sterling Heights, MI and Parma, MI, road signs point toward Port Huron, Toledo and M 14: Ann Arbor.

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