Stirling, often referred to as the gateway to the Highlands, is significantly closer to Glasgow than to Edinburgh. The distance between Stirling and Glasgow is about 26 miles (42 km), which means a travel time of about 40 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. Conversely, the distance between Stirling and Edinburgh is about 37 miles (59 km), which usually means about an hour's travel time, again depending on traffic conditions.