How far is Ironwood, MI from Sterling Heights, MI?
The driving distance from Ironwood, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is about 595.8 miles (958.8 km), with a travel time of about 09h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 441.8 miles (711 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 36m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Township in Mackinac County, Michigan
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Ironwood and Sterling Heights.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ironwood and Sterling Heights.
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1
Start on North Lowell Street
30 m · 10 sec · North Lowell Street
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2
Turn left onto East Ayer Street
141 m · 26 sec · East Ayer Street
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3
Turn left onto North Suffolk Street
145 m · 10 sec · North Suffolk Street
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4
Turn right onto East Frederick Street
139 m · 8 sec · East Frederick Street
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5
Turn slight left onto Douglas Boulevard
2244 ft · 42 sec · Douglas Boulevard
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6
Turn right onto West Cloverland Drive
11.5 mi · 15 min · West Cloverland Drive
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7
Turn left onto Smith Street
618 ft · 29 sec · Smith Street
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8
At the end of the road, turn right
78.3 mi · 1 hr 31 min
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9
Turn right
40.1 mi · 52 min
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10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
28 m · 5 sec
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11
Exit the rotary
1.4 km · 2 min
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Palms Avenue
29 m · 6 sec · Palms Avenue
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13
Exit the roundabout onto Palms Avenue
10.2 mi · 14 min · Palms Avenue
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14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US-41/M-28
35 m · 7 sec · US-41/M-28
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15
Exit the roundabout onto US-41/M-28
2883 ft · 45 sec · US-41/M-28
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16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward US-41/M-28
31 m · 6 sec · US-41/M-28
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17
Exit the roundabout onto US-41/M-28
1.6 mi · 2 min · US-41/M-28
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18
Continue on Marquette Bypass
1 mi · 1 min · Marquette Bypass
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19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Marquette Bypass
33 m · 6 sec · Marquette Bypass
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20
Exit the roundabout onto Marquette Bypass
882 ft · 15 sec · Marquette Bypass
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21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Marquette Bypass
33 m · 1 sec · Marquette Bypass
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22
Exit the roundabout onto Marquette Bypass
2760 ft · 52 sec · Marquette Bypass
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23
Take the exit slight right
125 m · 10 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto South Front Street
2.6 mi · 4 min · South Front Street
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25
Continue on US-41/M-28
1.6 mi · 3 min · US-41/M-28
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26
Turn left onto M-28
35.8 mi · 42 min · M-28
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27
Continue on West Munising Avenue
2.2 mi · 5 min · West Munising Avenue
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28
Exit the roundabout onto Cedar Street
838 ft · 23 sec · Cedar Street
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29
Continue on M-28
35.1 mi · 42 min · M-28
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30
Turn sharp right
17.3 mi · 21 min
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31
At the end of the road, turn left
65.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min
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32
Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
1819 ft · 44 sec
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33
Merge slight left
94.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min
-
34
Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
124.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min
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35
Keep slight left
11 mi · 12 min
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36
Keep slight left
36.8 mi · 39 min
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37
Take the exit slight right toward M 59 East: Utica
1392 ft · 47 sec
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38
Merge slight left
9.6 mi · 10 min
-
39
Take the exit slight right toward Mound Road, Merrill Road
1449 ft · 35 sec
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40
Continue on Dobry Drive
1046 ft · 26 sec · Dobry Drive
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41
Turn right onto Mound Road
3.3 mi · 5 min · Mound Road
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42
Continue on Mound Road
1212 ft · 36 sec · Mound Road
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43
Turn right onto 17 Mile Road
1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road
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44
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 17 Mile Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ironwood and Sterling Heights.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Ironwood and Partly Sunny near Sterling Heights.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Ironwood to Sterling Heights?
The road trip is about 595.8 miles (958.8 km) and usually takes 09h 36m 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 293.1 miles from Ironwood and 302.7 miles from Sterling Heights.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 441.8 miles (711 km), while the road route adds roughly 154 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 $79.27 one way or $158.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 186.8 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Ironwood and Sterling Heights, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Ironwood and Partly Sunny near Sterling Heights.
Stop Ideas Near Moran
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Moran.
St. Ignace, Michigan
Mackinaw City, Michigan
Cheboygan, MI
Pellston, Michigan
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Ironwood and Sterling Heights. Straight-line distance: 441.77 mi (710.96 km).
#1 Ironwood
City in Michigan, United States
| Population | 4,814 |
| Coordinates | 46.4546700, -90.1710100 |
| Altitude | 459 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Sterling Heights
The second most populous city in Macomb County, Michigan.
| Population | 131,709 |
| Coordinates | 42.5803100, -83.0302000 |
| Altitude | 187 |
| Country | United States |
End: 17 Mile Road (-83.030204, 42.580347)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 959 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 19h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 53m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 54m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 55m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $79.27 | $158.53 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $89.40 | $178.80 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $97.83 | $195.65 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $111.49 | $222.98 |
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 17, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.