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

The driving distance from Sterling Heights, MI to Franklin, MI is about 17.2 miles (27.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 14.6 miles (23.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
17.21 mi
00h 32m
Flight
14.6 mi
23.5 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sterling Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
14.6 mi
Kilometers
23.5 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
17.21 mi
Kilometers
27.69 km
Drive Time
00h 32m

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 00h 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Franklin
Mon, May 4, 7:39 PM EDT
Return by in Sterling Heights
Mon, May 4, 8:12 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling Heights
2026-05-04T19:07
Arrive Franklin
Mon, May 4, 7:39 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:33 AM to 7:33 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:24 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Sterling Heights
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Birmingham
MI

City in Michigan

From Sterling Heights
8.6 mi
00h 16m
To Franklin
8.6 mi
00h 16m

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
74°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 17 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 17 Mile Road

    2 mi · 4 min · 17 Mile Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Ryan Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · Ryan Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Metropolitan Parkway

    1.5 km · 1 min · Metropolitan Parkway

  4. 4

    Continue on East Big Beaver Road

    6.9 mi · 12 min · East Big Beaver Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Quarton Road

    2.7 mi · 6 min · Quarton Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Gilbert Lake Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · Gilbert Lake Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto West Maple Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Maple Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Franklin Road

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Franklin Road

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Scenic Drive

    19 m · 3 sec · Scenic Drive

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Scenic Drive

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
10 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
58.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Big Beaver Road
6.91 mi · 40%
Quarton Road
2.74 mi · 16%
17 Mile Road
2.05 mi · 12%
Franklin Road
1.55 mi · 9%
West Maple Road
1.3 mi · 8%
Ryan Road
1 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

East Big Beaver Road

Continue on East Big Beaver Road

6.91 mi · 00h 12m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 32m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.6 mi
14.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Birmingham
00h 16m from Sterling Heights
Leave By
7:24 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Sterling Heights and Sunny near Franklin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 17.2 miles (27.7 km) and usually takes 00h 32m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Birmingham is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.6 miles from Sterling Heights and 8.6 miles from Franklin.

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

The direct path is about 14.6 miles (23.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.6 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:24 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.30 one way or $4.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Birmingham

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

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

RAIL

Birmingham, Michigan

1 mi away
449 South Eton St.
RAIL

Troy Transit Center

2 mi away
1201 Doyle Drive
RAIL

Royal Oak station

8 mi away
202 South Sherman Ave.
RAIL

Pontiac Transportation Center

12 mi away
51000 Woodward Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling Heights and Franklin. Straight-line distance: 14.6 mi (23.5 km).

Sterling Heights

#1 Sterling Heights

The second most populous city in Macomb County, Michigan.

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

#2 Franklin

City in Michigan, USA

Population3,221
Coordinates42.5222600, -83.3060400
Altitude255
CountryUnited States
Start: Sterling Heights (-83.0302, 42.58031)
End: Franklin (-83.30604, 42.52226)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 28 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.61 gal
2.3 L · about $2.30
Round trip
$4.60
1.22 gal · 4.6 L
Estimated CO2
5.4 kg one way
Round trip: 10.8 kg / 24 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $2.30 $4.60
Mid-grade $4.25 $2.59 $5.19
Premium $4.65 $2.84 $5.68
Diesel $5.30 $3.24 $6.47

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 04, 2026

There is no time difference between Sterling Heights and Franklin. The current time is 19:07:09.

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.