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

The driving distance from Potterville, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is about 101.8 miles (163.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 86.9 miles (139.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 16m 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
101.87 mi
01h 38m
Flight
86.96 mi
139.95 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Potterville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
86.96 mi
Kilometers
139.95 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
101.87 mi
Kilometers
163.94 km
Drive Time
01h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling Heights
Sat, May 30, 12:54 PM EDT
Return by in Potterville
Sat, May 30, 2:32 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Potterville
2026-05-30T11:16
Arrive Sterling Heights
Sat, May 30, 12:54 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:38 AM to 11:38 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:14 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Potterville
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
Brighton
MI

Suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States

From Potterville
50.2 mi
00h 49m
To Sterling Heights
51.7 mi
00h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph NE
Destination
71°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Potterville Street

    2574 ft · 59 sec · Potterville Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Hartel Road

    1127 ft · 31 sec · Hartel Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp sharp left

    2239 ft · 55 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    3.2 mi · 3 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward Lansing Road

    1658 ft · 40 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Lansing Road

    158 m · 13 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Lansing Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Lansing Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward I-96 EAST: Detroit

    2433 ft · 59 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    65 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  10. 10

    Continue on Walter P Reuther Freeway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto John C Lodge Freeway

    2206 ft · 27 sec · John C Lodge Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 24 North: Telegraph Road

    1664 ft · 57 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on Telegraph Road

    4.7 mi · 7 min · Telegraph Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Quarton Road

    3.2 mi · 7 min · Quarton Road

  15. 15

    Continue on West Big Beaver Road

    6.9 mi · 13 min · West Big Beaver Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Metropolitan Parkway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Metropolitan Parkway

  17. 17

    Continue on Metropolitan Parkway

    580 ft · 22 sec · Metropolitan Parkway

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Mound Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Mound Road

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 17 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 17 Mile Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Potterville 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
20 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-96 EAST
65.5 mi · 64%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
8.93 mi · 9%
West Big Beaver Road
6.93 mi · 7%
Telegraph Road
4.67 mi · 5%
Hartel Road
3.85 mi · 4%
Quarton Road
3.25 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I-96 EAST

Merge slight left

65 mi · 01h 10m

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 38m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.9 mi
86.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brighton
00h 49m from Potterville
Leave By
3:14 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Potterville 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 Potterville to Sterling Heights?

The road trip is about 101.8 miles (163.9 km) and usually takes 01h 38m 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?

Brighton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50.2 miles from Potterville and 51.7 miles from Sterling Heights.

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

The direct path is about 86.9 miles (139.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.9 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 3:14 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.58 one way or $27.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Brighton

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

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

RAIL

Ann Arbor station

27 mi away
325 Depot Street
RAIL

Pontiac Transportation Center

42 mi away
51000 Woodward Avenue
RAIL

Durand Union Station

45 mi away
200 South Railroad St.
RAIL

Troy Transit Center

48 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Potterville and Sterling Heights. Straight-line distance: 86.96 mi (139.95 km).

Potterville

#1 Potterville

City in Eaton County, Michigan, United States of America

Population2,765
Coordinates42.6292000, -84.7388700
Altitude274
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: North Hartel Road (-84.738987, 42.629199)
End: 17 Mile Road (-83.030204, 42.580347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 164 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.6 gal
13.61 L · about $13.58
Round trip
$27.15
7.2 gal · 27.22 L
Estimated CO2
32 kg one way
Round trip: 64 kg / 141 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.58 $27.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.31 $30.62
Premium $4.65 $16.75 $33.51
Diesel $5.30 $19.09 $38.19

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Potterville and Sterling Heights. The current time is 11:16:00.

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.