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

The driving distance from Sterling Heights, MI to Ellington, MI is about 84.9 miles (136.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 68.8 miles (110.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 42m 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
84.88 mi
01h 51m
Flight
68.85 mi
110.81 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
68.85 mi
Kilometers
110.81 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
84.88 mi
Kilometers
136.6 km
Drive Time
01h 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 01h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ellington
Tue, May 5, 8:03 AM EDT
Return by in Sterling Heights
Tue, May 5, 9:54 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling Heights
2026-05-05T06:11
Arrive Ellington
Tue, May 5, 8:03 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:51 AM to 11:51 AM EDT

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

Leave by
2:48 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
Burnside
MI

Township in Lapeer County, Michigan

From Sterling Heights
42.4 mi
00h 55m
To Ellington
42.4 mi
00h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph W
Destination
54°F
Tuesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 17 Mile Road

    928 ft · 27 sec · 17 Mile Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Fanning Road

    69 m · 14 sec · Fanning Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto New Bradford Boulevard

    919 ft · 43 sec · New Bradford Boulevard

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Van Dyke Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Van Dyke Avenue

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on M 53 North: Imlay City

    24.2 mi · 30 min

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Van Dyke Road

    5.6 mi · 8 min · North Van Dyke Road

  7. 7

    Continue on South Cedar Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South Cedar Street

  8. 8

    Continue on North Cedar Street

    3244 ft · 1 min · North Cedar Street

  9. 9

    Continue on North Van Dyke Road

    19.7 mi · 25 min · North Van Dyke Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Main Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  11. 11

    Continue on South Van Dyke Road

    12.3 mi · 14 min · South Van Dyke Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Deckerville Road

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Deckerville Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Bruce Street

    1295 ft · 32 sec · Bruce Street

  14. 14

    Continue on East Deckerville Road

    8.7 mi · 12 min · East Deckerville Road

  15. 15

    Turn sharp right onto East Caro Road

    3.9 mi · 5 min · East Caro Road

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Caro Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
16 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Van Dyke Road
25.3 mi · 30%
M 53 North
24.2 mi · 28%
South Van Dyke Road
12.3 mi · 14%
East Deckerville Road
8.72 mi · 10%
Deckerville Road
4.88 mi · 6%
East Caro Road
3.88 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

M 53 North

Keep slight right to continue on M 53 North: Imlay City

24.2 mi · 00h 30m

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 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.1 mi
68.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Burnside
00h 55m from Sterling Heights
Leave By
2:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Sterling Heights and Rain Showers Likely near Ellington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 84.9 miles (136.6 km) and usually takes 01h 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?

Burnside is a useful midpoint, sitting about 42.4 miles from Sterling Heights and 42.4 miles from Ellington.

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

The direct path is about 68.8 miles (110.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.1 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 2:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.31 one way or $22.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Burnside

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

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

RAIL

Lapeer station

26 mi away
73 Howard St.
RAIL

Flint station

52 mi away
1407 South Dort Highway
RAIL

Port Huron

59 mi away
2223 16th Street
RAIL

Pontiac Transportation Center

66 mi away
51000 Woodward Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling Heights and Ellington. Straight-line distance: 68.85 mi (110.81 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 Ellington

Township in Tuscola County, Michigan

Population1,261
Coordinates43.5539100, -83.3213400
Altitude239
CountryUnited States
Start: Sterling Heights (-83.0302, 42.58031)
End: Ellington (-83.32134, 43.55391)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 137 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3 gal
11.34 L · about $11.31
Round trip
$22.63
6 gal · 22.68 L
Estimated CO2
26.7 kg one way
Round trip: 53.3 kg / 118 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $11.31 $22.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $12.76 $25.52
Premium $4.65 $13.96 $27.92
Diesel $5.30 $15.91 $31.82

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Sterling Heights and Ellington. The current time is 06:11:46.

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.