How far is Sterling Heights, MI from New Buffalo, MI?

The driving distance from Sterling Heights, MI to New Buffalo, MI is about 227 miles (365.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 197.7 miles (318.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 23m 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
227 mi
04h 11m
Flight
197.71 mi
318.19 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
197.71 mi
Kilometers
318.19 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
227 mi
Kilometers
365.32 km
Drive Time
04h 11m

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 04h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in New Buffalo
Thu, May 14, 11:33 PM EDT
Return by in Sterling Heights
Fri, May 15, 3:45 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling Heights
2026-05-14T19:21
Arrive New Buffalo
Thu, May 14, 11:33 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:12 AM to 12:12 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:36 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
Marengo
MI

Township in Calhoun County, Michigan

From Sterling Heights
113.3 mi
02h 05m
To New Buffalo
113.7 mi
02h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph NNW
Destination
62°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sterling Heights and New Buffalo.

  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

    20 mi · 22 min · Walter P Reuther Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 96 East, I 275: Toledo

    2135 ft · 52 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96 East, I 275: Toledo

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 96, I 275: Detroit, Toledo

    1875 ft · 23 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight right onto Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway

    5.8 mi · 6 min · Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward M 14: Ann Arbor

    1 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    16.5 mi · 18 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on M 14: Ann Arbor

    5.4 mi · 6 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago

    167.1 mi · 2 hr 59 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 12 West: New Buffalo

    1876 ft · 46 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on Pulaski Highway

    1368 ft · 21 sec · Pulaski Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on East Buffalo Street

    1020 ft · 22 sec · East Buffalo Street

  19. 19

    Continue on East Buffalo Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · East Buffalo Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Buffalo Street

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
1 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 West
167 mi · 74%
M 14
22.5 mi · 10%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
20 mi · 9%
Mound Road
6.21 mi · 3%
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Highway
5.79 mi · 3%
East Buffalo Street
1.52 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 94 West

Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago

167 mi · 02h 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
04h 11m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.3 mi
197.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Marengo
02h 05m from Sterling Heights
Leave By
8:36 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Sterling Heights and Sunny near New Buffalo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sterling Heights to New Buffalo?

The road trip is about 227 miles (365.3 km) and usually takes 04h 11m 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?

Marengo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 113.3 miles from Sterling Heights and 113.7 miles from New Buffalo.

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

The direct path is about 197.7 miles (318.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.3 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 8:36 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.21 one way or $60.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 71.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Marengo

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

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

RAIL

Albion station

8 mi away
300 North Eaton St.
RAIL

Battle Creek Transportation Center

28 mi away
104 Capital Ave. S.W.
RAIL

Jackson station

37 mi away
501 E. Michigan Ave.
RAIL

East Lansing station

58 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling Heights and New Buffalo. Straight-line distance: 197.71 mi (318.19 km).

Sterling Heights

#1 Sterling Heights

The second most populous city in Macomb County, Michigan.

Population131,709
Coordinates42.5803100, -83.0302000
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
New Buffalo

#2 New Buffalo

City in Berrien County, Michigan, United States

Population1,865
Coordinates41.7939300, -86.7439200
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Start: Sterling Heights (-83.0302, 42.58031)
End: New Buffalo (-86.74392, 41.79393)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 365 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.01 gal
30.32 L · about $30.21
Round trip
$60.41
16.02 gal · 60.64 L
Estimated CO2
71.2 kg one way
Round trip: 142.4 kg / 314 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $30.21 $60.41
Mid-grade $4.25 $34.07 $68.13
Premium $4.65 $37.28 $74.56
Diesel $5.30 $42.49 $84.97

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 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Sterling Heights and New Buffalo. The current time is 19:21:55.

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.