Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
54.5 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ann Arbor, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Connecting Ann Arbor to Flint is a quick, straightforward journey that spans 54.5 miles through the heart of the Midwest. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 1 hour and 4 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, it is a highly economical route for commuters or weekend travelers. Since both cities are located within Michigan, you will remain in the same region throughout the drive. This trip is designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing, providing a direct link between the two municipalities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 23 BUS | 47.4 mi | 50m |
| Chevrolet-Buick Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| M 14 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Huron Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Fifth Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Grand Traverse Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South State Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ann Arbor, MI and Flint, MI.
Start on South State Street
Turn left onto I 94 BL; US 23 BUS
Turn right onto US 23 BUS
Take the ramp onto US 23 BUS
Merge onto M 14; US 23 BUS
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 69
Take the exit
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
Turn right onto M 21
Turn left onto Harrison Street
Turn left onto M 21
Turn left
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Ann Arbor, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 53.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69 East: Flint, Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Saginaw Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.52 one way
$17.04 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.36 | $18.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.49 | $20.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.03 | $24.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.63 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Ann Arbor on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Flint on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
61°F
Hartland, MI
27 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a focused, highway-heavy drive that relies heavily on US 23 BUS and the Chevrolet-Buick Freeway. With 91% of your journey spent on highways, you will spend the vast majority of your time cruising at higher speeds. The most significant portion of your travel is a single 47.4-mile stretch along US 23 BUS, which defines the rhythm of the trip. Navigating this path involves transitioning from the local roads of North Main Street onto these major transit arteries. Overall, the experience is consistent and functional, prioritizing a steady pace over winding, technical terrain.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 BUS and Chevrolet-Buick Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near US 23 BUS.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.5 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
166 ft
Total Descent
289 ft
Highest Point
976 ft
~23.3 mi in
Elevation Range
223 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ann Arbor, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Port Huron along the way.
Port Huron
Flint is an industrial city an hour northwest of Detroit in Michigan. It was the home of many General Motors factories, including the Buick World Headquarters, Flint has fallen on hard times over the past 30 years due to the decline of the American automotive industry. Despite these misfortunes, the city has an outsized history, including decisive roles in the growth of the American labor movement and community schooling and evident in a host of extensive and well-endowed cultural institutions. Flint has seen a dramatic reduction in crime while simultaneously enjoying a revitalizing Downtown and growing colleges and universities are found within the city's limits.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 54.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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