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

The driving distance from Manistee, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is about 242.2 miles (389.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 201.4 miles (324.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
242.2 mi
03h 52m
Flight
201.36 mi
324.05 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Manistee.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
201.36 mi
Kilometers
324.05 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
242.2 mi
Kilometers
389.78 km
Drive Time
03h 52m

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 03h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 9:13 AM EDT
Return by in Manistee
Thu, Apr 23, 1:06 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Manistee
2026-04-23T05:20
Arrive Sterling Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 9:13 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:53 AM to 11:53 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:14 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Manistee
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Sanford
MI

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

From Manistee
120.1 mi
01h 56m
To Sterling Heights
122.1 mi
01h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph S
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 Manistee and Sterling Heights.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    27 m · 12 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Maple Street

    1395 ft · 48 sec · Maple Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Washington Street

    123 m · 16 sec · Washington Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Memorial Drive

    1182 ft · 41 sec · Memorial Drive

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Cleveland Street

    1502 ft · 35 sec · Cleveland Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Arthur Street

    1 km · 1 min · Arthur Street

  7. 7

    Continue on West Parkdale Road

    1 km · 1 min · West Parkdale Road

  8. 8

    Continue on West Parkdale Avenue

    1663 ft · 38 sec · West Parkdale Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Caberfae Highway

    25.1 mi · 29 min · Caberfae Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on West M-55 Highway

    18.8 mi · 23 min · West M-55 Highway

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East M-115 Highway

    37.7 mi · 52 min · East M-115 Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 10 East: Clare

    1782 ft · 51 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    10.9 mi · 11 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight left toward US 10 EAST: Midland, Bay City

    46.1 mi · 46 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw

    2040 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    36.3 mi · 39 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    11 mi · 12 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 39 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward M 59 East: Utica

    1392 ft · 47 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    9.6 mi · 10 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Mound Road, Merrill Road

    1449 ft · 35 sec

  22. 22

    Continue on Dobry Drive

    1046 ft · 26 sec · Dobry Drive

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Mound Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Mound Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Mound Road

    1212 ft · 36 sec · Mound Road

  25. 25

    Turn right onto 17 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 17 Mile Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Manistee 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
26 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
84.5 mi · 35%
US 10 East
57.3 mi · 24%
East M-115 Highway
37.7 mi · 16%
Caberfae Highway
25.1 mi · 10%
West M-55 Highway
18.8 mi · 8%
M 59 East
9.83 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

US 10 EAST

Take the exit slight left toward US 10 EAST: Midland, Bay City

46.1 mi · 00h 46m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.8 mi
201.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sanford
01h 56m from Manistee
Leave By
9:14 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Manistee 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 Manistee to Sterling Heights?

The road trip is about 242.2 miles (389.8 km) and usually takes 03h 52m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Sanford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.1 miles from Manistee and 122.1 miles from Sterling Heights.

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

The direct path is about 201.4 miles (324.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.8 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:14 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.24 one way or $64.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Sanford

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

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

BUS

Bay City, MI

41 mi away
1124 Washington Avenue
BUS

Saginaw, MI

45 mi away
511 Johnson Street
BUS

Owosso, MI

77 mi away
109 Comstock Street
BUS

Big Rapids, Michigan

89 mi away
14342 Northland Dr.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Manistee and Sterling Heights. Straight-line distance: 201.36 mi (324.05 km).

Manistee

#1 Manistee

City in Michigan, United States

Population6,163
Coordinates44.2444500, -86.3242500
Altitude200
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: (-86.324243, 44.244583)
End: 17 Mile Road (-83.030204, 42.580347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 390 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.55 gal
32.35 L · about $32.24
Round trip
$64.48
17.1 gal · 64.7 L
Estimated CO2
76 kg one way
Round trip: 152 kg / 335 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.24 $64.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.36 $72.73
Premium $4.65 $39.79 $79.58
Diesel $5.30 $45.35 $90.70

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 Manistee and Sterling Heights. The current time is 05:20:40.

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.