Traveling from Flint to Dafter covers 272.8 miles and requires approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Because this route relies on local roads like East Court Street, Saginaw Street, and East Third Street rather than major interstates, it functions best as a focused, one-day trip. You should budget about $41 for fuel to complete the journey. While both cities are located within the Midwest, the drive takes you from the central industrial heart of Michigan toward the northern reaches of the state. It is a straightforward trip that works well if you prefer local roads over high-speed highway travel.
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
136.4 miles from Flint, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
260.1 mi
4h 26m
UAW Freeway
9.7 mi
10m
South Soo Line Road
1 mi
3m
M 28
0.8 mi
<1m
East Third Street
0.4 mi
1m
Saginaw Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Chavez Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Court Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 260.1 mi, about 4h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flint, MI and Dafter, 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
0.8 mi·57 sec·M 28
13
Turn left onto South Soo Line Road
1.0 mi·3 min·South Soo Line Road
14
Turn right onto West 10 Mile Road
50 ft·2 sec·West 10 Mile Road
15
Arrive at destination
West 10 Mile Road
Trip Plan
Plan to set aside a full day for this 272.8-mile journey to ensure you can manage the turn-heavy nature of the local roads comfortably. Since you are sticking to local streets, allow for at least one planned stop to break up the nearly five-hour duration. Because your total fuel cost is estimated at $41, try to fill your tank before you leave Flint to avoid hunting for stations while navigating the more localized stretches of the route. If you find yourself tiring, remember that the lack of highway segments means you have more flexibility to pull over in smaller towns along the way. Stay alert for the frequent turns required by the local road layout to keep your travel time as close to the 4h 45m estimate as possible.
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 136.4 miles from Flint, MI, or about 2h 22m 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 60 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.4 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dafter, 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 272.8 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 13
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
$42.65 one way
$85.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.83
$93.65
premium
$4.89
$52.50
$105.00
diesel
$5.61
$60.23
$120.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.8
1
$28.64
$13.09
Efficient EV
68.2
0
$23.87
$10.91
EV Truck/SUV
109.1
1
$38.19
$17.46
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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 Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Flint, MI
Late night
in Flint on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 14 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dafter, MI
Late night
in Dafter on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live 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
39 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
4h 45m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate away from Flint. With a 0% highway share, you will be steering through a series of local transitions rather than settling into a monotonous interstate cruise. The route maintains a consistent pace, though the reliance on local streets means you will experience more frequent stops and turns than a typical long-distance freeway trek. Because the road conditions shift frequently, you will find this drive feels much more engaged and hands-on than a standard transit route. Keep your eyes on the navigation, as the lack of highway miles makes the path through these local corridors the defining characteristic of your trip.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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 13 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 272.8 miles you will encounter 13 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
1,290 ft580 ft
Total Climb
789 ft
Total Descent
863 ft
Highest Point
1,290 ft
~136.4 mi in
Elevation Range
710 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 45m. Total distance: 272.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Dafter, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
