How far is South Rockwood, MI from Sterling Heights, MI?

The driving distance from South Rockwood, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is about 46.6 miles (75 km), with a travel time of about 00h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 37.6 miles (60.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 43m 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
46.63 mi
00h 51m
Flight
37.57 mi
60.47 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Rockwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
37.57 mi
Kilometers
60.47 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
46.63 mi
Kilometers
75.04 km
Drive Time
00h 51m

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 00h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling Heights
Tue, Apr 21, 7:05 AM EDT
Return by in South Rockwood
Tue, Apr 21, 7:57 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Rockwood
2026-04-21T06:14
Arrive Sterling Heights
Tue, Apr 21, 7:05 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:52 AM to 10:52 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:46 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in South Rockwood
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
Detroit
MI

The twenty-fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Detroit metropolitan area.

From South Rockwood
23.1 mi
00h 25m
To Sterling Heights
23.5 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Tuesday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 to 17 mph SW
Destination
70°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Rockwood and Sterling Heights.

  1. 1

    Start on Race Street

    36 m · 9 sec · Race Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Huron River Drive

    1337 ft · 42 sec · South Huron River Drive

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward I 75 North: Detroit

    1726 ft · 42 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Detroit-Toledo Expressway

    8.3 mi · 9 min · Detroit-Toledo Expressway

  5. 5

    Continue on Fisher Freeway

    11.1 mi · 12 min · Fisher Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Fisher Freeway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Fisher Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward I 96 West: Lansing, Michigan Avenue

    3086 ft · 48 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Jeffries Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Jeffries Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Chicago, Port Huron

    953 ft · 27 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 94 East: Port Huron

    1249 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Edsel Ford Freeway

    2 mi · 3 min · Edsel Ford Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Flint, Toledo

    92 m · 6 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Flint

    2575 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

    7.8 mi · 9 min · North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron

    1036 ft · 25 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I-75 North to I-696 East

    2136 ft · 52 sec · I-75 North to I-696 East

  17. 17

    Continue on Walter P Reuther Freeway

    3.1 mi · 3 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Mound Road

    1569 ft · 38 sec · I-696 East

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · I-696 East to Northbound Mound Road

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto Mound Road

    5.9 mi · 9 min · Mound Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto 17 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 17 Mile Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between South Rockwood 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
22 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
47.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Fisher Freeway
12.8 mi · 27%
Detroit-Toledo Expressway
8.31 mi · 18%
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
7.84 mi · 17%
Mound Road
6.02 mi · 13%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
3.08 mi · 7%
Edsel Ford Freeway
2.01 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Fisher Freeway

Continue on Fisher Freeway

11.1 mi · 00h 12m

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
00h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9 mi
37.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Detroit
00h 25m from South Rockwood
Leave By
4:46 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving South Rockwood and Mostly Sunny near Sterling Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from South Rockwood to Sterling Heights?

The road trip is about 46.6 miles (75 km) and usually takes 00h 51m 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?

Detroit is a useful midpoint, sitting about 23.1 miles from South Rockwood and 23.5 miles from Sterling Heights.

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

The direct path is about 37.6 miles (60.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 4:46 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.22 one way or $12.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around South Rockwood and Mostly Sunny near Sterling Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Detroit

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

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

RAIL

Detroit

5 mi away
11 West Baltimore Ave.
RAIL

John D. Dingell Transit Center

13 mi away
16121 Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Greenfield Village, Michigan

16 mi away
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
RAIL

Royal Oak station

19 mi away
202 South Sherman Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Rockwood and Sterling Heights. Straight-line distance: 37.57 mi (60.47 km).

South Rockwood

#1 South Rockwood

City in Monroe County, Michigan, United States of America

Population1,648
Coordinates42.0639300, -83.2610400
Altitude179
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: Race Street (-83.26122, 42.064001)
End: 17 Mile Road (-83.030204, 42.580347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 75 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.65 gal
6.23 L · about $6.22
Round trip
$12.44
3.3 gal · 12.46 L
Estimated CO2
14.7 kg one way
Round trip: 29.3 kg / 65 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.22 $12.44
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.02 $14.03
Premium $4.65 $7.68 $15.36
Diesel $5.30 $8.75 $17.50

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 21, 2026

There is no time difference between South Rockwood and Sterling Heights. The current time is 06:14:04.

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.