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

The driving distance from Sterling Heights, MI to Almena, MI is about 168.1 miles (270.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 144.2 miles (232.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 29m 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
168.14 mi
03h 14m
Flight
144.21 mi
232.09 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sterling Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
144.21 mi
Kilometers
232.09 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.14 mi
Kilometers
270.59 km
Drive Time
03h 14m

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 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Almena
Wed, Apr 15, 3:37 PM EDT
Return by in Sterling Heights
Wed, Apr 15, 6:52 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling Heights
2026-04-15T12:23
Arrive Almena
Wed, Apr 15, 3:37 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 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
10:30 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sterling Heights
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
Leoni
MI

Township in Jackson County, Michigan

From Sterling Heights
83.9 mi
01h 37m
To Almena
84.3 mi
01h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Overnight

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
73°F
Wednesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 17 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Mound Road

    92 m · 5 sec · Mound Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Mound Road

    6 mi · 10 min · Mound Road

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on Mound Road

    953 ft · 16 sec · Mound Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward I 696: Lansing, Port Huron

    1445 ft · 35 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West

    2073 ft · 51 sec · Southbound Mound Road to I-696 West

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Walter P Reuther Freeway

    20 mi · 22 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo

    2135 ft · 52 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96 East, I 275: Toledo

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo

    1875 ft · 23 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight right onto Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway

    5.8 mi · 6 min · Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward M 14: Ann Arbor

    1 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    16.5 mi · 18 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on M 14: Ann Arbor

    5.4 mi · 6 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago

    104.7 mi · 1 hr 52 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Mattawan

    1211 ft · 30 sec

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward North Main Street

    7 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto North Main Street

    2289 ft · 1 min · North Main Street

  19. 19

    Continue on County Road 652

    2575 ft · 1 min · County Road 652

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Red Arrow Highway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Red Arrow Highway

  21. 21

    Turn right onto County Road 652

    2.4 mi · 6 min · County Road 652

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road 375

    1.3 mi · 3 min · County Road 375

  23. 23

    Turn right onto County Road 653

    6 m · 1 sec · County Road 653

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · County Road 653

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 West
105 mi · 62%
M 14
22.5 mi · 13%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
20 mi · 12%
Mound Road
6.21 mi · 4%
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
5.79 mi · 3%
County Road 652
2.89 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 94 West

Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago

105 mi · 01h 52m

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 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.9 mi
144.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Leoni
01h 37m from Sterling Heights
Leave By
10:30 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Sterling Heights and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Almena.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 168.1 miles (270.6 km) and usually takes 03h 14m 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?

Leoni is a useful midpoint, sitting about 83.9 miles from Sterling Heights and 84.3 miles from Almena.

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

The direct path is about 144.2 miles (232.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.9 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:30 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.36 one way or $44.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Sterling Heights and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Almena.

Stop Ideas Near Leoni

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

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

RAIL

Jackson station

11 mi away
501 E. Michigan Ave.
RAIL

Albion station

40 mi away
300 North Eaton St.
RAIL

Ann Arbor station

43 mi away
325 Depot Street
RAIL

East Lansing station

56 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling Heights and Almena. Straight-line distance: 144.21 mi (232.09 km).

Sterling Heights

#1 Sterling Heights

The second most populous city in Macomb County, Michigan.

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

#2 Almena

Township in Van Buren County, Michigan

Population5,196
Coordinates42.2647600, -85.8252900
Altitude231
CountryUnited States
Start: Sterling Heights (-83.0302, 42.58031)
End: Almena (-85.82529, 42.26476)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 271 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.93 gal
22.46 L · about $22.36
Round trip
$44.72
11.86 gal · 44.92 L
Estimated CO2
52.7 kg one way
Round trip: 105.4 kg / 232 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.36 $44.72
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.22 $50.44
Premium $4.65 $27.60 $55.20
Diesel $5.30 $31.45 $62.91

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Sterling Heights and Almena. The current time is 12:23:15.

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.