Flint to Bay Mills is 286.2 miles and takes about 5h 7m via I 75 and M 28, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily travels north through Michigan's Midwest region. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of your drive. With just one recommended stop and a relatively short travel time, this trip is well-suited for a single day of driving. It's a straightforward path for getting from southeastern Michigan to the Upper Peninsula.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143.1 miles from Flint, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
260.1 mi
4h 26m
UAW Freeway
9.7 mi
10m
M 28
7.7 mi
8m
West Lakeshore Drive
3.9 mi
9m
South M-221
2.5 mi
4m
South Bay Mills Point Road
1 mi
3m
East Third Street
0.4 mi
1m
Saginaw Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 260.1 mi, about 4h 26m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,249 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,389
Quietest
2 AM
~50 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
25×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flint, MI and Bay Mills, MI.
1
Start on this road
93 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn uturn onto M 21
253 ft·17 sec·East Court Street
3
Turn right onto Saginaw Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Saginaw Street
4
Turn right onto East Third Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Third Street
5
Turn left onto Chavez Drive
483 ft·13 sec·Chavez Drive
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 475 North
7
Merge onto I 475
9.7 mi·10 min·UAW Freeway
8
Merge onto I 75; US 23
38 mi·40 min·I 75; US 23
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 75; US 23
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
159 mi·2 hr 42 min·I 75
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward M 28: Newberry, Munising
12
Turn left onto M 28
7.7 mi·8 min·M 28
13
Turn right onto M 221
2.5 mi·4 min·South M-221
14
At end of road, turn left onto West Lakeshore Drive
3.9 mi·9 min·West Lakeshore Drive
15
Turn right onto South Bay Mills Point Road
1.0 mi·3 min·South Bay Mills Point Road
16
Turn slight right onto South North Drive
83 ft·3 sec·South North Drive
17
Arrive at destination
South North Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider departing Flint in the morning to allow ample daylight for your arrival in Bay Mills. Since the recommended stop count is low, you can be flexible with your timing. The majority of your travel will be on I 75, so keep an eye on fuel levels as services can be spaced out on this stretch. The transition from I 75 to M 28 marks the end of the extensive highway driving, so be prepared for a change in road conditions and speed limits as you approach your destination.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.1 miles from Flint, MI, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 260.1 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 63 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.1 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay Mills, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Flint, 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 Flint, MI
This is one driving day of about 286.2 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Flint, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 260.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 270.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|M 21 / East Court Street
Turn uturn onto M 21 / East Court Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Saginaw Street
Turn right onto Saginaw Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Third Street
Turn right onto East Third Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 475 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 475 North
5
270.7 mi into trip|~4h 39m in
Take the exit toward M 28: Newberry, Munising
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward M 28: Newberry, Munising
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.74 one way
$95.48 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$51.89
$103.78
premium
$5.26
$59.26
$118.51
diesel
$6.18
$69.62
$139.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.9
1
$30.05
$13.74
Efficient EV
71.6
0
$25.04
$11.45
EV Truck/SUV
114.5
1
$40.07
$18.32
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Flint, MI
Morning
in Flint on Tuesday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bay Mills, MI
Morning
in Bay Mills on Tuesday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
9 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
5h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 94% of this 286.2-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on I 75 covers 260.1 miles. After this long highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining miles. Expect a lot of exits and merges during the initial highway portion of your drive.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 260.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and UAW Freeway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near M 21 / East Court Street.
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 286.2 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (M 21 / East Court Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (Saginaw Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Third Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,305 ft580 ft
Total Climb
965 ft
Total Descent
1,113 ft
Highest Point
1,305 ft
~163.6 mi in
Elevation Range
725 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Flint, MI and Bay Mills, MI, road signs point toward M 28: Newberry and Munising.
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.
Top landmarks
•Flint Institute of Arts — art school and museum in Flint, Michigan
•Capitol Theatre — movie theater and concert venue in Flint, Michigan, United States
•Robert J. Whaley House — historic house museum in Flint, Michigan
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 286.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 260.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (M 21 / East Court Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (Saginaw Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Third Street): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bay Mills, MI before the return drive.
