Origin
Sterling Heights, MI
Afternoon in Sterling Heights on Wednesday
Local time
1:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling Heights, MI to Livingston, MI
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
3h 57m
Distance
210.3 mi
338 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 23m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 4m
3 PM
4h 8m
5 PM
4h 22m
8 PM
3h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling Heights, MI
fish socks
Livingston, MI
Carlos Batista
Trip Overview
The drive from Sterling Heights, MI to Livingston, MI covers 210.3 miles and takes about 3h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mound Road, I 696, I-696 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.88 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
105.2 miles from Sterling Heights, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 57m drive with frequent turns across 210.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mound Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 57m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sterling Heights, MI to Livingston, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mound Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 696 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-696 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 96 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 96 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| M 14 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Mound Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights, MI and Livingston, 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
4
Keep slight left to continue on Mound Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Mound Road
5
Take the ramp straight toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 696: Lansing, Port Huron
6
Keep slight right to continue on Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West
7
Merge slight left onto Walter P Reuther Freeway
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 96 East, I 275: Toledo
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
0.4 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo
11
Merge slight right onto Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward M 14: Ann Arbor
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
M 14: Ann Arbor
13
Merge slight left
17 mi
·
17 min
14
Keep slight left to continue on M 14: Ann Arbor
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
M 14: Ann Arbor
15
Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago
147 mi
·
2 hr 37 min
·
I 94 West: Chicago
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 94 Business: Stevensville
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 94 Business: Stevensville
17
Turn left onto Red Arrow Highway
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Red Arrow Highway
18
Turn left onto Livingston Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Livingston Road
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105.2 miles from Sterling Heights, MI, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.2 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livingston, 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 210.3 miles and 3h 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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 105.2 mi from Sterling Heights, MI · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.2 miles from Sterling Heights, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Livingston, MI
The final approach into Livingston, 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 Livingston, 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
$32.88 one way
$65.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.10 | $72.20 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.47 | $80.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.43 | $92.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.1 | 0 | $22.08 | $10.09 |
| Efficient EV | 52.6 | 0 | $18.40 | $8.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.1 | 1 | $29.44 | $13.46 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Livingston, MI
Afternoon in Livingston on Wednesday
Local time
1:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
6 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
3h 57m 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 Livingston, MI covers 210.3 miles and takes about 3h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mound Road, I 696, I-696 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.2 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 $32.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 57m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sterling Heights, MI to Livingston, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sterling Heights, MI to Livingston, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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