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

The driving distance from Sterling Heights, MI to Onondaga, MI is about 106.7 miles (171.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 78.6 miles (126.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 14m 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
106.7 mi
02h 07m
Flight
78.59 mi
126.48 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
78.59 mi
Kilometers
126.48 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
106.7 mi
Kilometers
171.71 km
Drive Time
02h 07m

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 02h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Onondaga
Sat, May 2, 11:28 PM EDT
Return by in Sterling Heights
Sun, May 3, 1:35 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling Heights
2026-05-02T21:20
Arrive Onondaga
Sat, May 2, 11:28 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:07 AM to 12:07 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:16 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
Howell
MI

Human settlement in Livingston County, Michigan, United States of America

From Sterling Heights
53.3 mi
01h 03m
To Onondaga
53.4 mi
01h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
53°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 13 mph NW
Destination
51°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 2 5:00 PM EDT
Wind
9 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    35.7 mi · 38 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Mason, Okemos

    2072 ft · 58 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Okemos Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · Okemos Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Howell Road

    2.6 mi · 4 min · West Howell Road

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North College Road

    1.6 km · 1 min · North College Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Columbia Road

    4 mi · 6 min · West Columbia Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Onondaga Road

    9.5 mi · 13 min · Onondaga Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Oak Street

    99 m · 9 sec · Oak Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Bellevue Road

    55 m · 5 sec · Bellevue Road

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bellevue Road

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Walter P Reuther Freeway
75.4 mi · 71%
Onondaga Road
9.54 mi · 9%
Mound Road
6.21 mi · 6%
Okemos Road
5.77 mi · 5%
West Columbia Road
4.03 mi · 4%
West Howell Road
2.58 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Walter P Reuther Freeway

Keep slight left

35.7 mi · 00h 38m

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
02h 07m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.1 mi
78.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Howell
01h 03m from Sterling Heights
Leave By
2:16 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Sterling Heights and Mostly Cloudy near Onondaga.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 106.7 miles (171.7 km) and usually takes 02h 07m 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?

Howell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 53.3 miles from Sterling Heights and 53.4 miles from Onondaga.

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

The direct path is about 78.6 miles (126.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.1 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 2:16 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.18 one way or $28.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Sterling Heights and Mostly Cloudy near Onondaga.

Stop Ideas Near Howell

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

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

RAIL

Durand Union Station

34 mi away
200 South Railroad St.
RAIL

Ann Arbor station

39 mi away
325 Depot Street
BUS

Owosso, MI

48 mi away
109 Comstock Street
RAIL

East Lansing station

48 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling Heights and Onondaga. Straight-line distance: 78.59 mi (126.48 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 Onondaga

Township in Ingham County, Michigan

Population3,247
Coordinates42.4442000, -84.5622000
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Start: Sterling Heights (-83.0302, 42.58031)
End: Onondaga (-84.5622, 42.4442)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 172 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.76 gal
14.25 L · about $14.18
Round trip
$28.36
7.52 gal · 28.5 L
Estimated CO2
33.4 kg one way
Round trip: 66.8 kg / 147 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $14.18 $28.36
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.99 $31.98
Premium $4.65 $17.50 $35.00
Diesel $5.30 $19.94 $39.89

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 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Sterling Heights and Onondaga. The current time is 21:20:45.

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.