How far is Sterling Heights, MI from Flat Rock, MI?

The driving distance from Sterling Heights, MI to Flat Rock, MI is about 422.7 miles (680.2 km), with a travel time of about 07h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 304.2 miles (489.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
422.63 mi
07h 46m
Flight
304.22 mi
489.6 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
304.22 mi
Kilometers
489.6 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
422.63 mi
Kilometers
680.15 km
Drive Time
07h 46m

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 07h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Flat Rock
Tue, May 5, 7:06 AM EDT
Return by in Sterling Heights
Tue, May 5, 2:52 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling Heights
2026-05-04T23:19
Arrive Flat Rock
Tue, May 5, 7:06 AM EDT
Route Timing
07h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:46 PM to 3:16 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
8:28 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sterling Heights
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Otsego Lake
MI

Township in Otsego County, Michigan

From Sterling Heights
211.1 mi
03h 53m
To Flat Rock
211.5 mi
03h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 16 mph SW
Destination
68°F
Monday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights and Flat Rock.

  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

    52.4 mi · 56 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    62.9 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    117.6 mi · 2 hr 1 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 2: Manistique, Escanaba

    1913 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto US-2 West

    1.1 km · 1 min · US-2 West

  14. 14

    Continue on US 2

    3.2 mi · 4 min · US 2

  15. 15

    Continue on US-2 West

    129.5 mi · 2 hr 33 min · US-2 West

  16. 16

    Turn right onto South Hill Road

    120 m · 11 sec · South Hill Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Blackwell Avenue

    1279 ft · 35 sec · Blackwell Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on South Hill Road

    1 km · 2 min · South Hill Road

  19. 19

    Continue on County 420 21st Road

    3 mi · 4 min · County 420 21st Road

  20. 20

    Turn left onto County 426 M.5 Road

    1 mi · 1 min · County 426 M.5 Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto County 416 20th Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · County 416 20th Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 20th Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
233 mi · 55%
US-2 West
130 mi · 31%
I 75 North
33.4 mi · 8%
M 59 West
9.48 mi · 2%
US 2
3.55 mi · 1%
County 416 20th Road
3.51 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US-2 West

Continue on US-2 West

130 mi · 02h 33m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 46m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+118.5 mi
304.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Otsego Lake
03h 53m from Sterling Heights
Leave By
8:28 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Sterling Heights and Chance Rain Showers near Flat Rock.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sterling Heights to Flat Rock?

The road trip is about 422.7 miles (680.2 km) and usually takes 07h 46m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Otsego Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 211.1 miles from Sterling Heights and 211.5 miles from Flat Rock.

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

The direct path is about 304.2 miles (489.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 118.5 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $56.23 one way or $112.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 132.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sterling Heights and Chance Rain Showers near Flat Rock.

Stop Ideas Near Otsego Lake

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

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

BUS

Boyne City, Michigan

41 mi away
1000 East Division St.
BUS

Walloon Lake, Michigan

44 mi away
Hwy 131 & Hwy 75
BUS

Petoskey, Michigan

55 mi away
301 West Mitchell St.
BUS

Alanson, MI

59 mi away
7640 Burr Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling Heights and Flat Rock. Straight-line distance: 304.22 mi (489.6 km).

Sterling Heights

#1 Sterling Heights

The second most populous city in Macomb County, Michigan.

Population131,709
Coordinates42.5803100, -83.0302000
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Flat Rock

#2 Flat Rock

City in Michigan, United States

Population9,959
Coordinates45.8258000, -87.1834700
Altitude234
CountryUnited States
Start: Sterling Heights (-83.0302, 42.58031)
End: Flat Rock (-87.18347, 45.8258)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 680 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.91 gal
56.45 L · about $56.23
Round trip
$112.45
29.82 gal · 112.9 L
Estimated CO2
132.5 kg one way
Round trip: 265 kg / 584 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $56.23 $112.45
Mid-grade $4.25 $63.41 $126.82
Premium $4.65 $69.39 $138.78
Diesel $5.30 $79.08 $158.17

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 Flat Rock. The current time is 23:19:45.

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.