Spanning 118.3 miles across Michigan, this drive between Belmont and Flint is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes. Since the entire route is comfortably manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have extra time to spare. You can expect to spend roughly $18 on fuel, making this an economical trip for a quick getaway or a necessary commute. By sticking primarily to I-96 and I-69, you bypass local traffic, allowing for a consistent pace throughout the Midwest landscape. Whether you are traveling for business or visiting family, this simple connection between two Michigan hubs offers a stress-free transit experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.2 miles from Belmont, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
54.8 mi
56m
I 96
50.8 mi
54m
East Beltline Avenue Northeast
5.9 mi
8m
West River Drive Northeast
1.5 mi
2m
Belmont Avenue Northeast
0.6 mi
<1m
Northland Drive Northeast
0.6 mi
1m
West Fifth Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 54.8 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belmont, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on Lynhurst Street Northeast
27 ft·6 sec·Lynhurst Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto Belmont Avenue Northeast
0.6 mi·58 sec·Belmont Avenue Northeast
3
At end of road, turn left onto Jupiter Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi·20 sec·Jupiter Avenue Northeast
4
Turn left onto West River Drive Northeast
1.5 mi·2 min·West River Drive Northeast
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto M 44
0.6 mi·1 min·Northland Drive Northeast
6
Continue on M 44
5.9 mi·8 min·East Beltline Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 96 East: LansingUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 96
51 mi·54 min·I 96
Toward I 96: LansingUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
2.5 mi·2 min
Exit 89Toward I 69 East: Flint
10
Merge onto I 69
55 mi·56 min·I 69
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward Saginaw Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·South Grand Traverse Street
13
Turn right onto M 21
0.3 mi·48 sec·West Fifth Street
14
Turn left onto Harrison Street
382 ft·20 sec·Harrison Street
15
Turn left onto M 21
235 ft·9 sec·East Court Street
16
Turn left
68 ft·6 sec
17
Turn right
93 ft·6 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule without needing to plan for overnight stops. Try to avoid peak rush hour times to ensure you maintain that 2-hour and 10-minute travel window, as traffic can fluctuate on the major interstates. Keep your $18 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before you leave Belmont to minimize the need for mid-trip stops. Because you spend nearly 90% of your time on highways, make sure your vehicle is prepared for sustained high-speed driving. A concrete tip for this trek is to keep a close eye on your GPS when transitioning from East Beltline Avenue Northeast to the interstate system, as these interchanges can be busy.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59.2 miles from Belmont, MI, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.2 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Flint, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belmont, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Belmont, MI
This is one driving day of about 118.3 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Belmont, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 54.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 117.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|West River Drive Northeast
Turn left onto West River Drive Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
8.9 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 96 East: Lansing
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 96 East: Lansing
6
9.2 mi into trip|~13m in|I 96
Merge onto I 96 toward I 96: Lansing
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 96: Lansing
5
60 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 69 East: Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 89
Toward I 69 East: Flint
7
117.3 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Saginaw Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.49 one way
$36.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.31
$40.61
premium
$4.89
$22.77
$45.53
diesel
$5.61
$26.12
$52.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.5
0
$12.42
$5.68
Efficient EV
29.6
0
$10.35
$4.73
EV Truck/SUV
47.3
0
$16.56
$7.57
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Belmont, MI
Late night
in Belmont on Sunday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Flint, MI
Late night
in Flint on Sunday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 10m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive, as 89% of your journey is spent cruising on major interstates. You will start by navigating East Beltline Avenue Northeast before merging onto the main arterial routes that define the trip's personality. The road feels like a classic interstate grind, characterized by wide lanes and steady speeds that keep you moving efficiently. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-69, where you will spend 54.8 miles focused on the horizon. Because the route is so heavily dominated by highway driving, you can anticipate a predictable and smooth ride from start to finish.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.8 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and I 96. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near West River Drive Northeast.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 118.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.8 miles (West River Drive Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 118.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.8 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (West River Drive Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Flint, MI before heading back.
