Origin
Chelsea, MI
Late night in Chelsea on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chelsea, MI to Flint, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
68.2 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chelsea, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Chelsea to Flint, you are looking at a straightforward 69.5-mile journey that takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the round trip, making this an economical choice for a quick Midwestern transition. The route primarily utilizes North Main Street, Highway 12, and I-94 East to bridge the gap between these two Michigan hubs. Whether you are commuting or just visiting, this travel plan offers a predictable timeline that keeps your logistics simple.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 23 BUS | 47.2 mi | 50m |
| I 94 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| M 14 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| East Old US Highway 12 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Chevrolet-Buick Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| West Fifth Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Grand Traverse Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 23 BUS
— 47.2 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chelsea, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on this road
439 ft
·
34 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto M 52
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto East Old US Highway 12
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
East Old US Highway 12
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 94 East: Ann Arbor
5
Merge onto I 94
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
I 94
6
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
M 14
Exit 171
Toward M 14: Plymouth
7
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS
47 mi
·
50 min
·
US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 69 East: Flint, Port Huron
11
Merge onto I 69
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Saginaw Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Grand Traverse Street
14
Turn right onto M 21
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Fifth Street
15
Turn left onto Harrison Street
382 ft
·
20 sec
·
Harrison Street
16
Turn left onto M 21
235 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Court Street
17
Turn left
68 ft
·
6 sec
18
Turn right
93 ft
·
6 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.1 miles from Chelsea, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 12.2 and 67.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
12.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
M 14
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14 toward M 14: Plymouth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 171
Toward M 14: Plymouth
7
16.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 23 BUS
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 23 North: Flint
7
64.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
7
64.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
7
67.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
$10.66 one way
$21.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.71 | $23.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.12 | $26.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.06 | $30.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.16 | $3.27 |
| Efficient EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.97 | $2.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.55 | $4.36 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Flint, MI
Late night in Flint on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Brighton, MI
34 mi in
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
19 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 19m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you will spend your time navigating local roads that require your full attention behind the wheel. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the route is defined by constant transitions through local infrastructure. The path demands a bit more driver engagement than a standard highway trek, so be prepared for frequent adjustments as you navigate the 69.5-mile distance. It is a practical, functional drive that keeps you moving through the heart of the region without the tedium of long, straight highway miles.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.2 mi on US 23 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 BUS and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in near M 14.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 12.2 miles (M 14): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.9 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
982 ft
754 ft
Total Climb
170 ft
Total Descent
344 ft
Highest Point
982 ft
~43.8 mi in
Elevation Range
228 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chelsea, MI and Flint, MI, road signs point toward M 14: Plymouth and Port Huron.
M 14: Plymouth
12.2 mi in
|
~16m
|
via M 14
Port Huron
64.1 mi in
|
~1h 12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 68.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.2 miles on US 23 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Flint, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.2 miles (M 14): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.9 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Flint, MI before heading back.
How this page is built
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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