Flint to Pleasant Ridge is 58.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes via I 75, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Michigan, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's a straightforward, predominantly highway drive that's perfect for a quick day trip or an easy leg of a longer journey. You'll spend most of your time on major freeways, making for a predictable and efficient commute.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
48.9 mi
52m
UAW Freeway
6.7 mi
7m
Walter P Reuther Freeway
1 mi
1m
I-75 South to I-696 West
0.4 mi
<1m
Woodward Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
East Fifth Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East 10 Mile Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 48.9 mi, about 52m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,010 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,110
Quietest
2 AM
~265 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 100 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 Pleasant Ridge, 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
49 mi·52 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 61Toward I 696: Port Huron, LansingUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I-75 South to I-696 West
0.4 mi·49 sec·I-75 South to I-696 West
Toward I 696 West: LansingUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 696
1.0 mi·1 min·Walter P Reuther Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 16Toward MI 1: Woodward Avenue, Detroit ZooUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on East 10 Mile Road
0.2 mi·32 sec·East 10 Mile Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn sharp left onto Woodward Avenue
0.4 mi·38 sec·Woodward Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
Woodward Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 29.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.2 — 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
8
56.2 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 696: Port Huron, 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.
Exit 61
Toward I 696: Port Huron, Lansing
7
56.4 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|I-75 South to I-696 West
Keep slight right at fork onto I-75 South to I-696 West toward I 696 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 696 West: Lansing
8
57.8 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward MI 1: Woodward Avenue, Detroit Zoo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16
Toward MI 1: Woodward Avenue, Detroit Zoo
7
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|Woodward Avenue
Turn sharp left onto Woodward Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.78 one way
$19.55 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$10.67
$21.33
premium
$5.25
$12.12
$24.24
diesel
$6.18
$14.26
$28.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.6
0
$6.15
$2.81
Efficient EV
14.7
0
$5.13
$2.34
EV Truck/SUV
23.4
0
$8.20
$3.75
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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 Oct 10, 2026
Origin
Flint, MI
Afternoon
in Flint on Tuesday
Local time
3:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
SE 5 to 8 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 9 at 2:49PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 9 at 2:38PM EDT until October 11 at 6:00PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Destination
Pleasant Ridge, MI
Afternoon
in Pleasant Ridge on Tuesday
Local time
3:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 9 at 2:49PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 9 at 2:38PM EDT until October 11 at 6:00PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
46°F
Clarkston, MI
29 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
2 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
1h 5m 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 route is almost entirely highway, with 97% of the drive on freeways. You'll experience a substantial stretch of 48.9 miles on I 75, which is a significant portion of the total distance. The transition from high-speed freeway to surface streets will likely occur near the end of your drive as you approach Pleasant Ridge. Expect a lot of exits and potential for urban merging as you get closer to your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.9 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
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.6 miles you will encounter 11 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: Navigation decision point; at 56.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.4 miles (I-75 South to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 5m. Total distance: 58.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.9 miles on I 75. 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 Pleasant Ridge, 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 56.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.4 miles (I-75 South to I-696 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pleasant Ridge, MI before heading back.
