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

The driving distance from Sterling Heights, MI to Ray, MI is about 146 miles (234.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 110 miles (177.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 13m 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
145.99 mi
03h 06m
Flight
110.04 mi
177.09 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
110.04 mi
Kilometers
177.09 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
145.99 mi
Kilometers
234.95 km
Drive Time
03h 06m

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 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ray
Tue, May 12, 10:35 PM EDT
Return by in Sterling Heights
Wed, May 13, 1:42 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling Heights
2026-05-12T19:28
Arrive Ray
Tue, May 12, 10:35 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 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
10:46 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
Chelsea
MI

City in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States of America

From Sterling Heights
72.9 mi
01h 33m
To Ray
73.1 mi
01h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Tuesday

Patchy Frost then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 13 mph SSE
Destination
68°F
Tuesday

Patchy Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    34.5 mi · 37 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward M 60, I 94 Business: Spring Arbor, Jackson

    6.1 mi · 8 min

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Moscow Road

    11.4 mi · 16 min · Moscow Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto East Chicago Road

    9.5 mi · 13 min · East Chicago Road

  19. 19

    Continue on West Chicago Street

    2872 ft · 37 sec · West Chicago Street

  20. 20

    Continue on West Chicago Road

    4.6 mi · 6 min · West Chicago Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North Edon Road

    8 mi · 11 min · North Edon Road

  22. 22

    Continue on North Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  23. 23

    Continue on South Edon Road

    4.9 mi · 7 min · South Edon Road

  24. 24

    Continue on North Main Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · North Main Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto West Bell Street

    2573 ft · 1 min · West Bell Street

  26. 26

    Continue on West Camden Road

    2 mi · 5 min · West Camden Road

  27. 27

    Continue on East 750 North

    2241 ft · 51 sec · East 750 North

  28. 28

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North 925 East

    2370 ft · 1 min · North 925 East

  29. 29

    Turn right onto East 700 North

    3039 ft · 1 min · East 700 North

  30. 30

    Continue on Lakeview Drive

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Lakeview Drive

  31. 31

    Continue on East 750 North

    1.4 km · 2 min · East 750 North

  32. 32

    Continue on Ray - Clear Lake Road

    1 km · 2 min · Ray - Clear Lake Road

  33. 33

    Turn right onto North 630 East

    2016 ft · 55 sec · North 630 East

  34. 34

    Turn straight onto Main

    115 m · 17 sec · Main

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
35 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 West
34.5 mi · 24%
M 14
22.5 mi · 15%
Walter P Reuther Freeway
20 mi · 14%
Moscow Road
11.4 mi · 8%
East Chicago Road
9.47 mi · 6%
North Edon Road
7.96 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 94 West

Merge slight left onto I 94 West: Chicago

34.5 mi · 00h 37m

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 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36 mi
110 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chelsea
01h 33m from Sterling Heights
Leave By
10:46 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Frost then Chance Rain Showers leaving Sterling Heights and Patchy Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Ray.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 146 miles (234.9 km) and usually takes 03h 06m 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?

Chelsea is a useful midpoint, sitting about 72.9 miles from Sterling Heights and 73.1 miles from Ray.

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

The direct path is about 110 miles (177.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 36 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 10:46 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.42 one way or $38.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Frost then Chance Rain Showers around Sterling Heights and Patchy Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Ray.

Stop Ideas Near Chelsea

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

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

RAIL

Ann Arbor station

23 mi away
325 Depot Street
RAIL

Jackson station

32 mi away
501 E. Michigan Ave.
RAIL

East Lansing station

59 mi away
1240 South Harrison Road
RAIL

Albion station

61 mi away
300 North Eaton St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling Heights and Ray. Straight-line distance: 110.04 mi (177.09 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 Ray

Unincorporated community in Indiana and Michigan, USA

Population4,059
Coordinates41.7597700, -84.8719000
Altitude329
CountryUnited States
Start: Sterling Heights (-83.0302, 42.58031)
End: Ray (-84.8719, 41.75977)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 235 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.15 gal
19.5 L · about $19.42
Round trip
$38.84
10.3 gal · 39 L
Estimated CO2
45.8 kg one way
Round trip: 91.5 kg / 202 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $19.42 $38.84
Mid-grade $4.25 $21.90 $43.81
Premium $4.65 $23.97 $47.94
Diesel $5.30 $27.32 $54.63

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Sterling Heights and Ray. The current time is 19:28:17.

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.