Origin
East Lansing, MI
Late night in East Lansing on Tuesday
Local time
4:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Lansing, MI to Flint, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
47.6 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Lansing, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 47.6-mile drive from East Lansing to Flint, Michigan, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 54 minutes. The route predominantly utilizes major highways, with an 87% highway share, making it an efficient transit between these two Midwest cities. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, this short journey is quite budget-friendly. You won't need to plan for overnight stops, and the direct nature of the drive means you can be flexible with your departure time. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 69 BL | 41.5 mi | 42m |
| East Saginaw Street | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Abbot Road | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Saginaw Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Fifth Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Grand Traverse Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Harrison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Court Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 69 BL
— 41.5 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Lansing, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on Abbot Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Abbot Road
2
Turn right onto I 69 BL
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
East Saginaw Street
3
Continue on I 69 BL
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Saginaw Highway
4
Take the ramp onto I 69 BL
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 69 BL
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 BL
41 mi
·
42 min
·
I 69 BL
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Saginaw Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Grand Traverse Street
8
Turn right onto M 21
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Fifth Street
9
Turn left onto Harrison Street
382 ft
·
20 sec
·
Harrison Street
10
Turn left onto M 21
235 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Court Street
11
Turn left
68 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn right
93 ft
·
6 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from East Lansing, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 47.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 69 BL / East Saginaw Street
Turn right onto I 69 BL / East Saginaw Street
Navigation decision point
7
46.6 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
46.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
South Grand Traverse Street
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
Navigation decision point
5
47.5 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
M 21 / East Court Street
Turn left onto M 21 / East Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
47.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.44 one way
$14.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.17 | $16.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.16 | $18.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Vernon, MI
24 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
54m 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 drive that is heavily focused on highway travel, as indicated by the 87% highway share. The bulk of your journey will be on I 69 BL, featuring a continuous stretch of 41.5 miles. This means you'll experience a consistent pace, largely unhindered by local traffic lights or slower speeds. The main roads involved include I 69 BL, East Saginaw Street, and Abbot Road, suggesting a transition from highway to more urban arterial roads as you approach Flint. This profile points to a driving experience that prioritizes efficient movement over scenic detours.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.5 mi on I 69 BL.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 BL and East Saginaw Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near I 69 BL / East Saginaw Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 69 BL / East Saginaw Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.9 miles (South Grand Traverse Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Flint, MI
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 47.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.5 miles on I 69 BL. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.7 miles (I 69 BL / East Saginaw Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.9 miles (South Grand Traverse Street): Navigation decision point.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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