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

The driving distance from Sterling Heights, MI to Muskegon Heights, MI is about 196.4 miles (316.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168 miles (270.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 15m 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
196.44 mi
03h 37m
Flight
167.99 mi
270.35 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
167.99 mi
Kilometers
270.35 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
196.44 mi
Kilometers
316.14 km
Drive Time
03h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Muskegon Heights
Sat, Apr 18, 2:41 AM EDT
Return by in Sterling Heights
Sat, Apr 18, 6:18 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling Heights
2026-04-17T23:03
Arrive Muskegon Heights
Sat, Apr 18, 2:41 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:38 AM to 11:38 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
9:44 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
Waverly
MI

City in Bremer County, Iowa, United States

From Sterling Heights
98.1 mi
01h 48m
To Muskegon Heights
98.4 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NNE
Destination
66°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    38.5 mi · 41 min

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Getty Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Getty Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East Broadway Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · East Broadway Avenue

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Broadway Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Walter P Reuther Freeway
94.6 mi · 48%
I 96 West
92.2 mi · 47%
Mound Road
6.21 mi · 3%
South Getty Street
1.12 mi · 1%
17 Mile Road
1 mi · 1%
East Broadway Avenue
0.71 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 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.4 mi
168 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waverly
01h 48m from Sterling Heights
Leave By
9:44 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Sterling Heights and Partly Sunny near Muskegon Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 196.4 miles (316.1 km) and usually takes 03h 37m 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?

Waverly is a useful midpoint, sitting about 98.1 miles from Sterling Heights and 98.4 miles from Muskegon Heights.

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

The direct path is about 168 miles (270.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.4 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 9:44 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.13 one way or $52.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Waverly

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

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

RAIL

East Lansing station

11 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road
BUS

Owosso, MI

47 mi away
109 Comstock Street
RAIL

Durand Union Station

55 mi away
200 South Railroad St.
RAIL

Albion station

56 mi away
300 North Eaton St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling Heights and Muskegon Heights. Straight-line distance: 167.99 mi (270.35 km).

Sterling Heights

#1 Sterling Heights

The second most populous city in Macomb County, Michigan.

Population131,709
Coordinates42.5803100, -83.0302000
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Muskegon Heights

#2 Muskegon Heights

City in Muskegon County in the U.

Population10,688
Coordinates43.2011300, -86.2389500
Altitude191
CountryUnited States
Start: Sterling Heights (-83.0302, 42.58031)
End: Muskegon Heights (-86.23895, 43.20113)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 316 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.93 gal
26.24 L · about $26.13
Round trip
$52.27
13.86 gal · 52.48 L
Estimated CO2
61.6 kg one way
Round trip: 123.2 kg / 272 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.13 $52.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.47 $58.95
Premium $4.65 $32.25 $64.50
Diesel $5.30 $36.76 $73.51

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Sterling Heights and Muskegon Heights. The current time is 23:03:24.

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.