How far is Iron Mountain, MI from Sterling Heights, MI?

The driving distance from Iron Mountain, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is about 474.4 miles (763.4 km), with a travel time of about 07h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 335 miles (539.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 26m 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
474.37 mi
07h 13m
Flight
335.04 mi
539.19 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Iron Mountain.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
335.04 mi
Kilometers
539.19 km
Flight Time
00h 40m

Driving Distance

Road route
474.37 mi
Kilometers
763.42 km
Drive Time
07h 13m

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 07h 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling Heights
Sat, Apr 18, 3:41 PM EDT
Return by in Iron Mountain
Sat, Apr 18, 9:54 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Iron Mountain
2026-04-18T07:28
Arrive Sterling Heights
Sat, Apr 18, 2:41 PM CDT
Route Timing
07h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:13 PM to 3:43 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
9:34 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Iron Mountain
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Wolverine
MI

Human settlement in Cheboygan County, Michigan, United States of America

From Iron Mountain
236.3 mi
03h 36m
To Sterling Heights
238 mi
03h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
44°F
Saturday

Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph NW
Destination
73°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Iron Mountain and Sterling Heights.

  1. 1

    Start on East Ludington Street

    35 m · 7 sec · East Ludington Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Stephenson Avenue

    1.9 mi · 2 min · South Stephenson Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on US-2/US-141

    5.2 mi · 6 min · US-2/US-141

  4. 4

    Continue on Murray Road

    2.2 mi · 2 min · Murray Road

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Eighth Avenue

    20.4 mi · 24 min · Eighth Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    22 mi · 28 min

  7. 7

    Turn left onto North Lincoln Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · North Lincoln Road

  8. 8

    Continue on US-2/US-41/M-35

    46 mi · 55 min · US-2/US-41/M-35

  9. 9

    Continue on West Lakeshore Drive

    88.4 mi · 1 hr 44 min · West Lakeshore Drive

  10. 10

    Continue on US 2

    3.2 mi · 4 min · US 2

  11. 11

    Continue on US-2 West

    2455 ft · 46 sec · US-2 West

  12. 12

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

    1819 ft · 44 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    94.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  14. 14

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

    124.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    11 mi · 12 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 39 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward M 59 East: Utica

    1392 ft · 47 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    9.6 mi · 10 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Mound Road, Merrill Road

    1449 ft · 35 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on Dobry Drive

    1046 ft · 26 sec · Dobry Drive

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Mound Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Mound Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Mound Road

    1212 ft · 36 sec · Mound Road

  23. 23

    Turn right onto 17 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 17 Mile Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Iron Mountain 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
24 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
172 mi · 36%
I 75 South
94.4 mi · 20%
West Lakeshore Drive
88.4 mi · 19%
US-2/US-41/M-35
46 mi · 10%
Eighth Avenue
42.4 mi · 9%
M 59 East
9.83 mi · 2%
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
07h 13m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+139.4 mi
335 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wolverine
03h 36m from Iron Mountain
Leave By
9:34 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain And Snow Showers leaving Iron Mountain and Showers And Thunderstorms near Sterling Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Iron Mountain to Sterling Heights?

The road trip is about 474.4 miles (763.4 km) and usually takes 07h 13m 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?

Wolverine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 236.3 miles from Iron Mountain and 238 miles from Sterling Heights.

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

The direct path is about 335 miles (539.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 139.4 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 $63.13 one way or $126.25 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 148.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain And Snow Showers around Iron Mountain and Showers And Thunderstorms near Sterling Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Wolverine

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

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

BUS

Alanson, MI

24 mi away
7640 Burr Avenue
BUS

Walloon Lake, Michigan

25 mi away
Hwy 131 & Hwy 75
BUS

Petoskey, Michigan

30 mi away
301 West Mitchell St.
BUS

Boyne City, Michigan

34 mi away
1000 East Division St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Iron Mountain and Sterling Heights. Straight-line distance: 335.04 mi (539.19 km).

Iron Mountain

#1 Iron Mountain

City in Dickinson County, Michigan, USA

Population7,268
Coordinates45.8202300, -88.0659600
Altitude347
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: East Ludington Street (-88.065959, 45.820309)
End: 17 Mile Road (-83.030204, 42.580347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 763 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.74 gal
63.36 L · about $63.13
Round trip
$126.25
33.48 gal · 126.72 L
Estimated CO2
148.8 kg one way
Round trip: 297.5 kg / 656 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $63.13 $126.25
Mid-grade $4.25 $71.20 $142.39
Premium $4.65 $77.91 $155.82
Diesel $5.30 $88.79 $177.58

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 18, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Iron Mountain, MI and Sterling Heights, MI. The current time in Iron Mountain is 07:28:07, although it is 08:28:07 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.