How far is West Ishpeming, MI from Sterling Heights, MI?

The driving distance from West Ishpeming, MI to Sterling Heights, MI is about 459.1 miles (738.9 km), with a travel time of about 07h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 354.4 miles (570.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
459.11 mi
07h 10m
Flight
354.35 mi
570.27 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Ishpeming.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
354.35 mi
Kilometers
570.27 km
Flight Time
00h 42m

Driving Distance

Road route
459.11 mi
Kilometers
738.87 km
Drive Time
07h 10m

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 07h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 7:57 AM EDT
Return by in West Ishpeming
Thu, Apr 23, 3:07 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Ishpeming
2026-04-23T00:47
Arrive Sterling Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 7:57 AM EDT
Route Timing
07h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:10 PM to 2:40 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:40 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in West Ishpeming
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Vanderbilt
MI

Village in Otsego County, Michigan, United States

From West Ishpeming
228 mi
03h 35m
To Sterling Heights
231.1 mi
03h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Ishpeming and Sterling Heights.

  1. 1

    Start on Center Street

    39 m · 11 sec · Center Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Silver Street

    610 ft · 29 sec · Silver Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South North Lake Drive

    807 ft · 22 sec · South North Lake Drive

  4. 4

    Continue on Greenwood Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Greenwood Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West Division Street

    2 mi · 3 min · West Division Street

  6. 6

    Continue on County Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · County Road

  7. 7

    Turn slight left onto Silver Street

    1638 ft · 35 sec · Silver Street

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Jackson Street

    638 ft · 15 sec · Jackson Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto South Pioneer Avenue

    153 m · 15 sec · South Pioneer Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Rail Street

    1945 ft · 33 sec · Rail Street

  11. 11

    Continue on County Road 480

    12.5 mi · 19 min · County Road 480

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Cherry Creek Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Cherry Creek Road

  13. 13

    Continue on M-28

    35.8 mi · 42 min · M-28

  14. 14

    Continue on West Munising Avenue

    2.2 mi · 5 min · West Munising Avenue

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto Cedar Street

    838 ft · 23 sec · Cedar Street

  16. 16

    Continue on M-28

    35.1 mi · 42 min · M-28

  17. 17

    Turn sharp right

    17.3 mi · 21 min

  18. 18

    Turn left

    65.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge

    1819 ft · 44 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    94.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

    124.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left

    11 mi · 12 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 39 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward M 59 East: Utica

    1392 ft · 47 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left

    9.6 mi · 10 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward Mound Road, Merrill Road

    1449 ft · 35 sec

  27. 27

    Continue on Dobry Drive

    1046 ft · 26 sec · Dobry Drive

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Mound Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Mound Road

  29. 29

    Continue on Mound Road

    1212 ft · 36 sec · Mound Road

  30. 30

    Turn right onto 17 Mile Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · 17 Mile Road

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 17 Mile Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
31 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
172 mi · 37%
I 75 South
94.4 mi · 21%
M-28
70.9 mi · 15%
County Road 480
12.5 mi · 3%
M 59 East
9.83 mi · 2%
Mound Road
3.77 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 75

Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

124 mi · 02h 07m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 10m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+104.7 mi
354.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vanderbilt
03h 35m from West Ishpeming
Leave By
9:40 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving West Ishpeming and Sunny near Sterling Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from West Ishpeming to Sterling Heights?

The road trip is about 459.1 miles (738.9 km) and usually takes 07h 10m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Vanderbilt is a useful midpoint, sitting about 228 miles from West Ishpeming and 231.1 miles from Sterling Heights.

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

The direct path is about 354.4 miles (570.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 104.7 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $61.09 one way or $122.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 144 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny around West Ishpeming and Sunny near Sterling Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Vanderbilt

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

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

BUS

Walloon Lake, Michigan

26 mi away
Hwy 131 & Hwy 75
BUS

Boyne City, Michigan

30 mi away
1000 East Division St.
BUS

Petoskey, Michigan

35 mi away
301 West Mitchell St.
BUS

Alanson, MI

35 mi away
7640 Burr Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between West Ishpeming and Sterling Heights. Straight-line distance: 354.35 mi (570.27 km).

West Ishpeming

#1 West Ishpeming

Census-designated place in Marquette County, Michigan

Population2,662
Coordinates46.4835500, -87.7009700
Altitude439
CountryUnited States
Sterling Heights

#2 Sterling Heights

The second most populous city in Macomb County, Michigan.

Population131,709
Coordinates42.5803100, -83.0302000
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: Center Street (-87.700974, 46.483766)
End: 17 Mile Road (-83.030204, 42.580347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 739 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.2 gal
61.33 L · about $61.09
Round trip
$122.18
32.4 gal · 122.66 L
Estimated CO2
144 kg one way
Round trip: 287.9 kg / 635 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $61.09 $122.18
Mid-grade $4.25 $68.90 $137.80
Premium $4.65 $75.39 $150.79
Diesel $5.30 $85.92 $171.85

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between West Ishpeming and Sterling Heights. The current time is 00:47:26.

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.