Flint to Flowerfield is 146 miles and takes about 2h 38m via I 69 and US-131, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Michigan, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward trip primarily on major roadways. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it a convenient option for quick travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73 miles from Flint, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
48.8 mi
52m
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
46 mi
47m
US-131
12.2 mi
13m
Flowerfield Road
1.1 mi
1m
South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Court Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Mill Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 48.8 mi, about 52m
Traffic on I-69
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,498 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,945
Quietest
2 AM
~98 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Flowerfield, MI.
1
Start on this road
93 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn uturn onto M 21
0.3 mi·47 sec·East Court Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Grand Traverse Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
5
Merge onto I 69
46 mi·47 min·Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·25 sec
Toward US 127: Clare, LansingUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·39 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·39 sec
9
Merge onto I 69
14 mi·15 min·I 69
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
34 mi·36 min·I 69
Exit 97Toward I 69 South: Charlotte, Fort Wayne
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 94: Chicago, Detroit
12
Keep slight right at fork
35 mi·38 min
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 131 South: Three Rivers
14
Merge onto US 131
12 mi·13 min·US-131
15
Turn right onto Flowerfield Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Flowerfield Road
16
Turn right onto Mill Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·Mill Street
17
Turn left onto Main Street
41 ft·1 sec·Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 38 minutes, you can easily complete this drive in one day. Consider departing in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and to avoid potential rush hour traffic. With only one recommended stop, plan your break strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $23, and it’s always wise to fill up before heading into less populated areas. This route offers flexibility, so you can adjust your departure time as needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73 miles from Flint, MI, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.8 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 32 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Flowerfield, 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 146 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 69 for about 48.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 97.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
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. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
46.9 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward US 127: Clare, Lansing
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 US 127: Clare, Lansing
7
62.9 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Charlotte, Fort Wayne
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 97
Toward I 69 South: Charlotte, Fort Wayne
5
97.3 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 94: Chicago, Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94: Chicago, Detroit
5
97.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.64 one way
$45.27 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$24.82
$49.64
premium
$4.93
$28.33
$56.65
diesel
$5.60
$32.18
$64.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.8
0
$15.33
$7.01
Efficient EV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
EV Truck/SUV
58.4
0
$20.44
$9.34
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Flint, MI
Late night
in Flint on Sunday
Local time
12:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 6 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:08AM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac MI
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 3:26PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Flowerfield, MI
Late night
in Flowerfield on Sunday
Local time
12:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:08AM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Detroit/Pontiac MI
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 3:26PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 38m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 about 73% of your time on highways, covering 106 miles on I 69 and US-131. The longest continuous stretch on a main highway measures 48.8 miles on I 69. Once you leave the Chevrolet-Buick Freeway, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining portion of your trip.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.8 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and Chevrolet-Buick Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near M 21 / East Court Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 146 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.9 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
998 ft754 ft
Total Climb
383 ft
Total Descent
283 ft
Highest Point
998 ft
~114.7 mi in
Elevation Range
244 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 Flowerfield, MI, road signs point toward Lansing, Fort Wayne and Detroit.
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 2h 38m. Total distance: 146 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.8 miles on I 69. 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 Flowerfield, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (M 21 / East Court Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.9 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Flowerfield, MI before heading back.
