Origin
Elba, MI
Late night in Elba on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elba, 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
19m
Distance
14.5 mi
23 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 18m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elba, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 14.5-mile drive from Elba to Flint, Michigan, is easily manageable in just 19 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-69, contributing to its highway-focused profile. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $2, this quick journey offers a straightforward way to travel between two points within the Midwest region. You won't need to worry about overnight stays for this particular stretch; it's designed for efficiency and ease. Consider this drive when you need a simple, direct connection between Elba and Flint.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 69 | 12.1 mi | 12m |
| South Elba Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Saginaw Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Fifth Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Harrison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Court Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 12.1 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elba, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on South Elba Road
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Elba Road
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
3
Merge onto I 69
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 69
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 136
Toward Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
5
Turn right onto Saginaw Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Saginaw Street
6
Turn right onto M 21
398 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Fifth Street
7
Turn left onto Harrison Street
382 ft
·
20 sec
·
Harrison Street
8
Turn left onto M 21
235 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Court Street
9
Turn left
68 ft
·
6 sec
10
Turn right
93 ft
·
6 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 14.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
7
13.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 136
Toward Downtown
5
14.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
M 21 / East Fifth Street
Turn right onto M 21 / East Fifth Street
Navigation decision point
5
14.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
M 21 / East Court Street
Turn left onto M 21 / East Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
14.5 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.27 one way
$4.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.49 | $4.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.79 | $5.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.20 | $6.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.52 | $0.70 |
| Efficient EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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 drive that is 83% highway, with the majority of your travel occurring on I-69. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.1 miles on I-69, offering a consistent pace. While primarily a highway-focused experience, the initial and final portions may involve local roads like South Elba Road and Saginaw Street. This blend means you'll experience the efficiency of interstate travel for most of the trip, transitioning to more typical local road conditions as you approach your destination in Flint.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.1 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and South Elba Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
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 19m 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 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles (M 21 / East Fifth Street): Navigation decision point.
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.
On the drive from Elba, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
13.7 mi in
|
~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 14.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.1 miles on I 69. 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 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles (M 21 / East Fifth 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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