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

The driving distance from Sterling Heights, MI to Alma, MI is about 126.8 miles (204.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 99.2 miles (159.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 00m 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
126.8 mi
02h 30m
Flight
99.14 mi
159.55 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sterling Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
99.14 mi
Kilometers
159.55 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
126.8 mi
Kilometers
204.06 km
Drive Time
02h 30m

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 02h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alma
Sun, Apr 12, 8:02 PM EDT
Return by in Sterling Heights
Sun, Apr 12, 10:32 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling Heights
2026-04-12T17:32
Arrive Alma
Sun, Apr 12, 8:02 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sterling Heights
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
Mount Morris
MI

Village in Illinois

From Sterling Heights
63.3 mi
01h 15m
To Alma
63.4 mi
01h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Sunday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph SSE
Destination
71°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 17 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 17 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Mound Road

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Mound Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Mound Road

    784 ft · 24 sec · Mound Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto M-59 Service Drive

    996 ft · 24 sec · M-59 Service Drive

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward M 59 West

    1742 ft · 43 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    9.1 mi · 10 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 North: Flint

    2907 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    32.8 mi · 35 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw

    37.8 mi · 40 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward M 46: Buena Vista, Sandusky

    1287 ft · 45 sec

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward East Holland Avenue

    4 m · 1 sec · East Holland Avenue

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto East Holland Avenue

    1099 ft · 16 sec · East Holland Avenue

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Holland Avenue

    32 m · 6 sec · East Holland Avenue

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout onto East Holland Avenue

    1.1 mi · 1 min · East Holland Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn slight right onto East Remington Street

    1.1 mi · 1 min · East Remington Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Sheridan Avenue

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Sheridan Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on Williams Street

    2311 ft · 34 sec · Williams Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Gratiot Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Gratiot Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on Gratiot Road

    11.4 mi · 13 min · Gratiot Road

  20. 20

    Continue on East Saginaw Street

    3158 ft · 41 sec · East Saginaw Street

  21. 21

    Continue on North Saginaw Street

    715 ft · 9 sec · North Saginaw Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Gratiot Road

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Gratiot Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Saginaw Street

    2661 ft · 1 min · Saginaw Street

  24. 24

    Continue on West Saginaw Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · West Saginaw Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Gratiot Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Gratiot Road

  26. 26

    Continue on East Monroe Road

    5 mi · 7 min · East Monroe Road

  27. 27

    Continue on East Saginaw Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · East Saginaw Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto North Wisner Road

    2 mi · 3 min · North Wisner Road

  29. 29

    Turn right onto East Lincoln Road

    7 mi · 10 min · East Lincoln Road

  30. 30

    Continue on East Superior Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · East Superior Street

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Superior Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sterling Heights and Alma.

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
31 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
37.8 mi · 30%
I 75 North
33.4 mi · 26%
Gratiot Road
16.7 mi · 13%
M 59 West
9.48 mi · 7%
East Lincoln Road
6.98 mi · 6%
East Monroe Road
5 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 75

Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw

37.8 mi · 00h 40m

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
02h 30m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.6 mi
99.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mount Morris
01h 15m from Sterling Heights
Leave By
1:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving Sterling Heights and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Alma.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sterling Heights to Alma?

The road trip is about 126.8 miles (204.1 km) and usually takes 02h 30m 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?

Mount Morris is a useful midpoint, sitting about 63.3 miles from Sterling Heights and 63.4 miles from Alma.

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

The direct path is about 99.2 miles (159.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.6 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 1:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.89 one way or $33.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 39.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Sterling Heights and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Alma.

Stop Ideas Near Mount Morris

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

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

RAIL

Flint station

12 mi away
1407 South Dort Highway
RAIL

Durand Union Station

33 mi away
200 South Railroad St.
RAIL

Lapeer station

33 mi away
73 Howard St.
BUS

Saginaw, MI

40 mi away
511 Johnson Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling Heights and Alma. Straight-line distance: 99.14 mi (159.55 km).

Sterling Heights

#1 Sterling Heights

The second most populous city in Macomb County, Michigan.

Population131,709
Coordinates42.5803100, -83.0302000
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Alma

#2 Alma

City in Michigan, USA

Population8,807
Coordinates43.3789200, -84.6597300
Altitude224
CountryUnited States
Start: Sterling Heights (-83.0302, 42.58031)
End: Alma (-84.65973, 43.37892)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 204 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.48 gal
16.94 L · about $16.89
Round trip
$33.79
8.96 gal · 33.88 L
Estimated CO2
39.8 kg one way
Round trip: 79.6 kg / 175 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.89 $33.79
Mid-grade $4.25 $19.05 $38.11
Premium $4.65 $20.85 $41.70
Diesel $5.30 $23.76 $47.52

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Sterling Heights and Alma. The current time is 17:32:13.

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.