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

The driving distance from Ishpeming, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is about 456 miles (733.9 km), with a travel time of about 07h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 353.6 miles (569 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
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
456.03 mi
07h 04m
Flight
353.54 mi
568.97 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ishpeming.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
353.54 mi
Kilometers
568.97 km
Flight Time
00h 42m

Driving Distance

Road route
456.03 mi
Kilometers
733.91 km
Drive Time
07h 04m

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 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling Heights
Mon, May 4, 12:13 PM EDT
Return by in Ishpeming
Mon, May 4, 7:17 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ishpeming
2026-05-04T05:08
Arrive Sterling Heights
Mon, May 4, 12:13 PM EDT
Route Timing
07h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:05 PM to 2:35 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
9:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ishpeming
8:00 PM EDT
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
Vanderbilt
MI

Village in Otsego County, Michigan, United States

From Ishpeming
227.2 mi
03h 32m
To Sterling Heights
228.9 mi
03h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Monday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W
Destination
75°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 16 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 1st Street

    5 m · 3 sec · South 1st Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Division Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · East Division Street

  3. 3

    Continue on County Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · County Road

  4. 4

    Turn slight left onto Silver Street

    1638 ft · 35 sec · Silver Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Jackson Street

    638 ft · 15 sec · Jackson Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto South Pioneer Avenue

    153 m · 15 sec · South Pioneer Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Rail Street

    1945 ft · 33 sec · Rail Street

  8. 8

    Continue on County Road 480

    12.5 mi · 19 min · County Road 480

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Cherry Creek Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Cherry Creek Road

  10. 10

    Continue on M-28

    35.8 mi · 42 min · M-28

  11. 11

    Continue on West Munising Avenue

    2.2 mi · 5 min · West Munising Avenue

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Cedar Street

    838 ft · 23 sec · Cedar Street

  13. 13

    Continue on M-28

    35.1 mi · 42 min · M-28

  14. 14

    Turn sharp right

    17.3 mi · 21 min

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn left

    65.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min

  16. 16

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

    1819 ft · 44 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    94.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  18. 18

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

    124.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    11 mi · 12 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 39 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward M 59 East: Utica

    1392 ft · 47 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    9.6 mi · 10 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward Mound Road, Merrill Road

    1449 ft · 35 sec

  24. 24

    Continue on Dobry Drive

    1046 ft · 26 sec · Dobry Drive

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Mound Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Mound Road

  26. 26

    Continue on Mound Road

    1212 ft · 36 sec · Mound Road

  27. 27

    Turn right onto 17 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 17 Mile Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ishpeming 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
28 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
172 mi · 38%
I 75 South
94.4 mi · 21%
M-28
70.9 mi · 16%
County Road 480
12.5 mi · 3%
M 59 East
9.83 mi · 2%
Mound Road
3.77 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
07h 04m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+102.4 mi
353.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vanderbilt
03h 32m from Ishpeming
Leave By
9:50 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Ishpeming 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 Ishpeming to Sterling Heights?

The road trip is about 456 miles (733.9 km) and usually takes 07h 04m 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?

Vanderbilt is a useful midpoint, sitting about 227.2 miles from Ishpeming and 228.9 miles from Sterling Heights.

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

The direct path is about 353.6 miles (569 km), while the road route adds roughly 102.4 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 EDT. 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 $60.68 one way or $121.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 143 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Ishpeming and Sunny near Sterling Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Vanderbilt

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

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

BUS

Walloon Lake, Michigan

26 mi away
Hwy 131 & Hwy 75
BUS

Boyne City, Michigan

30 mi away
1000 East Division St.
BUS

Petoskey, Michigan

35 mi away
301 West Mitchell St.
BUS

Alanson, MI

35 mi away
7640 Burr Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ishpeming and Sterling Heights. Straight-line distance: 353.54 mi (568.97 km).

Ishpeming

#1 Ishpeming

City in Marquette County, Michigan, United States of America

Population3,498
Coordinates46.4885500, -87.6676400
Altitude429
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: South 1st Street (-87.667693, 46.488551)
End: 17 Mile Road (-83.030204, 42.580347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 734 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.09 gal
60.91 L · about $60.68
Round trip
$121.35
32.18 gal · 121.82 L
Estimated CO2
143 kg one way
Round trip: 286 kg / 631 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $60.68 $121.35
Mid-grade $4.25 $68.43 $136.86
Premium $4.65 $74.88 $149.77
Diesel $5.30 $85.34 $170.68

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 · May 04, 2026

There is no time difference between Ishpeming and Sterling Heights. The current time is 05:08:57.

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.