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

The driving distance from Clinton, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is about 76.7 miles (123.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 59.5 miles (95.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
76.69 mi
01h 26m
Flight
59.55 mi
95.83 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clinton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
59.55 mi
Kilometers
95.83 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
76.69 mi
Kilometers
123.42 km
Drive Time
01h 26m

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 01h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 3:24 AM EDT
Return by in Clinton
Thu, Apr 23, 4:51 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clinton
2026-04-23T01:58
Arrive Sterling Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 3:24 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:27 AM to 11:27 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clinton
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Romulus
MI

City in Wayne County, Michigan

From Clinton
37.5 mi
00h 43m
To Sterling Heights
39.1 mi
00h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Tecumseh Street

    11 m · 3 sec · Tecumseh Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Michigan Avenue

    17.7 mi · 26 min · East Michigan Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the exit right

    1233 ft · 30 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    1.4 km · 57 sec

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 94: Detroit, Chicago

    926 ft · 23 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 94 BL East: Detroit, Airports

    2940 ft · 36 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    35.6 mi · 40 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Flint, Toledo

    92 m · 6 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Flint

    2575 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    7.8 mi · 9 min · North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron

    1036 ft · 25 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I-75 North to I-696 East

    2136 ft · 52 sec · I-75 North to I-696 East

  13. 13

    Continue on Walter P Reuther Freeway

    3.1 mi · 3 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Mound Road

    1569 ft · 38 sec · I-696 East

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Mound Road

    5.9 mi · 9 min · Mound Road

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 17 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 17 Mile Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
18 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 BL East
36.2 mi · 47%
East Michigan Avenue
18.9 mi · 25%
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
7.84 mi · 10%
Mound Road
6.02 mi · 8%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
3.08 mi · 4%
17 Mile Road
1 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 94 BL East

Merge slight left

35.6 mi · 00h 40m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 26m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.2 mi
59.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Romulus
00h 43m from Clinton
Leave By
3:36 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Clinton 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 Clinton to Sterling Heights?

The road trip is about 76.7 miles (123.4 km) and usually takes 01h 26m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Romulus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 37.5 miles from Clinton and 39.1 miles from Sterling Heights.

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

The direct path is about 59.5 miles (95.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.22 one way or $20.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 24.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Romulus

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Romulus, 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 Romulus.

RAIL

Greenfield Village, Michigan

16 mi away
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
RAIL

John D. Dingell Transit Center

19 mi away
16121 Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Ann Arbor station

30 mi away
325 Depot Street
RAIL

Detroit

31 mi away
11 West Baltimore Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clinton and Sterling Heights. Straight-line distance: 59.55 mi (95.83 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Clinton

Village in Michigan, United States

Population2,287
Coordinates42.0719900, -83.9716100
Altitude255
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: Tecumseh Street (-83.97166, 42.071972)
End: 17 Mile Road (-83.030204, 42.580347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 123 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.71 gal
10.24 L · about $10.22
Round trip
$20.44
5.42 gal · 20.48 L
Estimated CO2
24.1 kg one way
Round trip: 48.2 kg / 106 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $10.22 $20.44
Mid-grade $4.25 $11.53 $23.05
Premium $4.65 $12.61 $25.22
Diesel $5.30 $14.37 $28.75

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Clinton and Sterling Heights. The current time is 01:58:02.

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.