Flint to Orchard Lake is 39.6 miles and takes about 55 minutes via I 75 and UAW Freeway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Michigan, traveling from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly on the highway, making it a convenient option for a quick commute or a brief getaway. It's a practical route that doesn't require extensive planning, ideal for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
17.6 mi
18m
UAW Freeway
6.7 mi
7m
Dixie Highway
3.6 mi
5m
Highland Road
3 mi
4m
Airport Road
2.8 mi
5m
Cass Lake Road
2.7 mi
5m
Orchard Lake Road
1.9 mi
4m
Andersonville Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 17.6 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flint, MI and Orchard Lake, MI.
1
Start on this road
93 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right
335 ft·29 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto M 21
0.2 mi·29 sec·East Fifth Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
5
Merge onto I 475
6.7 mi·7 min·UAW Freeway
6
Merge onto I 75
18 mi·18 min·I 75
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 93Toward US 24: Waterford, Oakland County International Airport, Dixie HighwayUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto US 24
3.6 mi·5 min·Dixie Highway
Use the right lane.
9
Turn right onto Andersonville Road
0.3 mi·42 sec·Andersonville Road
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto Airport Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Airport Road
11
At end of road, turn right onto Williams Lake Road
408 ft·14 sec·Williams Lake Road
12
Turn left onto Airport Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Airport Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto M 59
3.0 mi·4 min·Highland Road
14
Turn right onto Cass Lake Road
2.7 mi·5 min·Cass Lake Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Orchard Lake Road
1.9 mi·4 min·Orchard Lake Road
16
Turn left onto West Long Lake Road
61 ft·1 sec·West Long Lake Road
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
West Long Lake Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Flint, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 39.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|M 21 / East Fifth Street
At end of road, turn left onto M 21 / East Fifth Street
Navigation decision point
8
25 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward US 24: Waterford, Oakland County International Airport, Dixie Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 93
Toward US 24: Waterford, Oakland County Interna...
6
28.8 mi into trip|~34m in|Andersonville Road
Turn right onto Andersonville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
39.6 mi into trip|~55m in|West Long Lake Road
Turn left onto West Long Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.85 one way
$11.70 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg14 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$6.46
$12.91
premium
$4.72
$7.35
$14.71
diesel
$4.80
$7.48
$14.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
11.9
0
$4.16
$1.90
Efficient EV
9.9
0
$3.47
$1.58
EV Truck/SUV
15.8
0
$5.54
$2.53
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 Jul 2, 2026
Origin
Flint, MI
Morning
in Flint on Monday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 14 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 2 at 3:11PM EDT until July 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 2 at 3:11PM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Destination
Orchard Lake, MI
Morning
in Orchard Lake on Monday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
WSW 15 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 2 at 3:11PM EDT until July 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 2 at 3:11PM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
82°F
Clarkston, MI
20 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
55m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 61% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 17.6 miles on I 75, offering a steady cruising experience. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, likely involving more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds. Given the highway share, expect relatively smooth sailing for the majority of the trip before reaching more localized traffic.
61% 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: 17.6 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and UAW Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 39.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (M 21 / East Fifth Street): Navigation decision point; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,095 ft751 ft
Total Climb
388 ft
Total Descent
181 ft
Highest Point
1,095 ft
~22.6 mi in
Elevation Range
344 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 Orchard Lake, MI, road signs point toward Oakland County International Airport and Dixie Highway.
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 55m. Total distance: 39.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.6 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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.
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 Orchard Lake, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (M 21 / East Fifth Street): Navigation decision point; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Orchard Lake, MI before heading back.
