How far is Bessemer, MI from Sterling Heights, MI?

The driving distance from Bessemer, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is about 581.5 miles (935.8 km), with a travel time of about 09h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 438.3 miles (705.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
581.45 mi
09h 18m
Flight
438.23 mi
705.26 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bessemer.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
438.23 mi
Kilometers
705.26 km
Flight Time
00h 52m

Driving Distance

Road route
581.45 mi
Kilometers
935.76 km
Drive Time
09h 18m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 09h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling Heights
Tue, Jun 2, 3:07 AM EDT
Return by in Bessemer
Tue, Jun 2, 11:25 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bessemer
2026-06-01T16:48
Arrive Sterling Heights
Tue, Jun 2, 2:07 AM CDT
Route Timing
09h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
4:19 PM to 5:49 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
5:22 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bessemer
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Moran
MI

Township in Mackinac County, Michigan

From Bessemer
289.7 mi
04h 39m
To Sterling Heights
291.7 mi
04h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 4:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph NE
Destination
78°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 4:00 PM EDT
Wind
10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bessemer and Sterling Heights.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bessemer and Sterling Heights.

  1. 1

    Start on West Lead Street

    5.5 mi · 8 min · West Lead Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Smith Street

    618 ft · 29 sec · Smith Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right

    78.3 mi · 1 hr 31 min

  4. 4

    Turn right

    40.1 mi · 52 min

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    28 m · 5 sec

  6. 6

    Exit the rotary

    1.4 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Palms Avenue

    29 m · 6 sec · Palms Avenue

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto Palms Avenue

    10.2 mi · 14 min · Palms Avenue

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US-41/M-28

    35 m · 7 sec · US-41/M-28

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto US-41/M-28

    2883 ft · 45 sec · US-41/M-28

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward US-41/M-28

    31 m · 6 sec · US-41/M-28

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto US-41/M-28

    1.6 mi · 2 min · US-41/M-28

  13. 13

    Continue on Marquette Bypass

    1 mi · 1 min · Marquette Bypass

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Marquette Bypass

    33 m · 6 sec · Marquette Bypass

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto Marquette Bypass

    882 ft · 15 sec · Marquette Bypass

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Marquette Bypass

    33 m · 1 sec · Marquette Bypass

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout onto Marquette Bypass

    2760 ft · 52 sec · Marquette Bypass

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right

    125 m · 10 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto South Front Street

    2.6 mi · 4 min · South Front Street

  20. 20

    Continue on US-41/M-28

    1.6 mi · 3 min · US-41/M-28

  21. 21

    Turn left onto M-28

    35.8 mi · 42 min · M-28

  22. 22

    Continue on West Munising Avenue

    2.2 mi · 5 min · West Munising Avenue

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto Cedar Street

    838 ft · 23 sec · Cedar Street

  24. 24

    Continue on M-28

    35.1 mi · 42 min · M-28

  25. 25

    Turn sharp right

    17.3 mi · 21 min

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn left

    65.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge

    1819 ft · 44 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left

    94.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  29. 29

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

    124.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  30. 30

    Keep slight left

    11 mi · 12 min

  31. 31

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 39 min

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward M 59 East: Utica

    1392 ft · 47 sec

  33. 33

    Merge slight left

    9.6 mi · 10 min

  34. 34

    Take the exit slight right toward Mound Road, Merrill Road

    1449 ft · 35 sec

  35. 35

    Continue on Dobry Drive

    1046 ft · 26 sec · Dobry Drive

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Mound Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Mound Road

  37. 37

    Continue on Mound Road

    1212 ft · 36 sec · Mound Road

  38. 38

    Turn right onto 17 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road

  39. 39

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 17 Mile Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bessemer and Sterling Heights.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
39 steps
21 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
20
3 merges, 17 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
172 mi · 30%
I 75 South
94.4 mi · 16%
M-28
70.9 mi · 12%
Palms Avenue
10.2 mi · 2%
M 59 East
9.83 mi · 2%
West Lead Street
5.55 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 75

Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

124 mi · 02h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
09h 18m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+143.2 mi
438.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Moran
04h 39m from Bessemer
Leave By
5:22 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Bessemer and Sunny near Sterling Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bessemer to Sterling Heights?

The road trip is about 581.5 miles (935.8 km) and usually takes 09h 18m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Moran is a useful midpoint, sitting about 289.7 miles from Bessemer and 291.7 miles from Sterling Heights.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 438.3 miles (705.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 143.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $77.38 one way or $154.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 182.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Bessemer and Sterling Heights, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bessemer and Sunny near Sterling Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Moran

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Moran, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Moran.

BUS

St. Ignace, Michigan

16 mi away
448 North State St.
BUS

Mackinaw City, Michigan

25 mi away
102 South Huron Ave.
BUS

Cheboygan, MI

48 mi away
309 East State Street
BUS

Pellston, Michigan

49 mi away
110 North US Highway 131

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bessemer and Sterling Heights. Straight-line distance: 438.23 mi (705.26 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Bessemer

Township in Gogebic County, Michigan

Population1,075
Coordinates46.4813400, -90.0529500
Altitude434
CountryUnited States
Sterling Heights

#2 Sterling Heights

The second most populous city in Macomb County, Michigan.

Population131,709
Coordinates42.5803100, -83.0302000
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: West Lead Street (-90.052951, 46.481168)
End: 17 Mile Road (-83.030204, 42.580347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 936 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)19h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)14h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)11h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)09h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)08h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)07h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
20.52 gal
77.67 L · about $77.38
Round trip
$154.76
41.04 gal · 155.34 L
Estimated CO2
182.4 kg one way
Round trip: 364.7 kg / 804 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $77.38 $154.76
Mid-grade $4.25 $87.27 $174.54
Premium $4.65 $95.50 $191.00
Diesel $5.30 $108.84 $217.68

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Michigan · Jun 01, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Bessemer, MI and Sterling Heights, MI. The current time in Bessemer is 16:48:35, although it is 17:48:35 in Sterling Heights.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.