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

The driving distance from Sterling Heights, MI to Alpine, MI is about 167.1 miles (268.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 138.8 miles (223.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 12m 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
167.11 mi
03h 06m
Flight
138.76 mi
223.31 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
138.76 mi
Kilometers
223.31 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
167.11 mi
Kilometers
268.94 km
Drive Time
03h 06m

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 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alpine
Thu, Apr 23, 6:46 AM EDT
Return by in Sterling Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 9:52 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling Heights
2026-04-23T03:39
Arrive Alpine
Thu, Apr 23, 6:46 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 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
10:48 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
Okemos
MI

Census-designated place in Ingham County, Michigan

From Sterling Heights
83.4 mi
01h 33m
To Alpine
83.7 mi
01h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    21.8 mi · 23 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  8. 8

    Merge slight right

    17.9 mi · 19 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    54.8 mi · 59 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96 West: Grand Rapids

    53.7 mi · 58 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 96 West, M 37 North: Muskegon

    6.6 mi · 7 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward M 37 North: Newaygo

    2102 ft · 51 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Alpine Avenue Northwest

    3.8 mi · 6 min · Alpine Avenue Northwest

  14. 14

    Turn right onto 7 Mile Road Northwest

    1302 ft · 25 sec · 7 Mile Road Northwest

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 7 Mile Road Northwest

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Walter P Reuther Freeway
94.6 mi · 57%
I 96 West
60.3 mi · 36%
Mound Road
6.21 mi · 4%
Alpine Avenue Northwest
3.75 mi · 2%
17 Mile Road
1 mi · 1%
M 37 North
0.4 mi
Longest Stretch

Walter P Reuther Freeway

Keep slight left

54.8 mi · 00h 59m

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 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.3 mi
138.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Okemos
01h 33m from Sterling Heights
Leave By
10:48 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Sterling Heights and Mostly Sunny near Alpine.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 167.1 miles (268.9 km) and usually takes 03h 06m 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?

Okemos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 83.4 miles from Sterling Heights and 83.7 miles from Alpine.

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

The direct path is about 138.8 miles (223.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.3 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 10:48 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.25 one way or $44.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Okemos

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

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

RAIL

East Lansing station

5 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road
BUS

Owosso, MI

37 mi away
109 Comstock Street
RAIL

Durand Union Station

42 mi away
200 South Railroad St.
RAIL

Jackson station

53 mi away
501 E. Michigan Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling Heights and Alpine. Straight-line distance: 138.76 mi (223.31 km).

Sterling Heights

#1 Sterling Heights

The second most populous city in Macomb County, Michigan.

Population131,709
Coordinates42.5803100, -83.0302000
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Alpine

Township in Kent County, Michigan

Population13,883
Coordinates43.0728000, -85.6850400
Altitude231
CountryUnited States
Start: Sterling Heights (-83.0302, 42.58031)
End: Alpine (-85.68504, 43.0728)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 269 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.9 gal
22.32 L · about $22.25
Round trip
$44.50
11.8 gal · 44.64 L
Estimated CO2
52.4 kg one way
Round trip: 104.9 kg / 231 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.25 $44.50
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.09 $50.19
Premium $4.65 $27.46 $54.92
Diesel $5.30 $31.29 $62.59

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 Sterling Heights and Alpine. The current time is 03:39:37.

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.