Connecting Cedar Springs to Flint, this 127.8-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Midwest that typically takes about 2 hours and 23 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight lodging along the way. You should budget approximately $19 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Utilizing a mix of East Beltline Avenue Northeast, I-96, and I-69, the route is designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing. It is an ideal path for travelers looking to move between these two Michigan locations with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.9 miles from Cedar Springs, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m 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
Northland Drive
5.9 mi
8m
Wolverine Boulevard Northeast
4 mi
5m
Northland Drive Northeast
1.8 mi
2m
South Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Fifth 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 Cedar Springs, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on this road
52 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
3
Continue on Northland Drive
5.9 mi·8 min·Northland Drive
4
Continue on Wolverine Boulevard Northeast
4.0 mi·5 min·Wolverine Boulevard Northeast
5
Continue on M 44
1.8 mi·2 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 the trip is a relatively short drive, you have significant flexibility in your departure time to avoid the heaviest regional traffic. With no mandatory stops required by the length of the journey, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to plan for extended rest breaks. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer interstate segments, as the $19 estimated cost is based on steady highway speeds. To make the most of your travel, try to avoid peak commuting hours when merging onto I-69 or I-96, as these major arteries can become congested. Planning your departure to coincide with off-peak hours will ensure you maintain that 2 hour and 23 minute arrival time.
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 63.9 miles from Cedar Springs, MI, or about 1h 16m 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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.9 miles or 1h 16m 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 58m
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 Cedar Springs, 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 Cedar Springs, MI
This is one driving day of about 127.8 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Cedar Springs, 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.3 and 127 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
18.3 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the ramp toward I 96 East: Lansing
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 96 East: Lansing
6
18.7 mi into trip|~27m 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
69.5 mi into trip|~1h 22m 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
126.8 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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
5
127 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|South Grand Traverse Street
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.98 one way
$39.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.94
$43.87
premium
$4.89
$24.59
$49.19
diesel
$5.61
$28.22
$56.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.3
0
$13.42
$6.13
Efficient EV
32
0
$11.18
$5.11
EV Truck/SUV
51.1
0
$17.89
$8.18
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Cedar Springs, MI
Night
in Cedar Springs on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Flint, MI
Night
in Flint on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph84% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:16AM EDT until April 19 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:12AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
43°F
Portland, MI
64 mi in
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
26 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 23m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 83% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating major interstates, providing a consistent pace that minimizes the need for technical driving. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on I-69, where you can settle in for a 54.8-mile stretch of steady driving. While the transition from local roads to the interstate system is quick, the personality of the drive remains functional and direct. Prepare for a predictable rhythm that prioritizes speed and reliability over winding, scenic detours.
83% 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and I 96. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 18.3 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 23m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.7 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
891 ft706 ft
Total Climb
255 ft
Total Descent
351 ft
Highest Point
891 ft
~91.3 mi in
Elevation Range
185 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 127.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
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 18.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.7 miles (I 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Flint, MI before heading back.
