Flint to Rochester Hills is 46.5 miles and takes about 54 minutes via I 75 and M 59, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two points within Michigan's Midwest region. It's a short enough trip that you can easily fit it into a single day, making it ideal for a quick commute or a day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect a mostly highway experience for the bulk of your travel time.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
33.1 mi
35m
UAW Freeway
6.7 mi
7m
M 59
3.2 mi
3m
West Hamlin Road
1 mi
2m
Crooks Road
0.6 mi
1m
South Livernois Road
0.3 mi
<1m
East Fifth Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Dickson Lane
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 33.1 mi, about 35m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,571 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,181
Quietest
2 AM
~141 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
25.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 34 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 Rochester Hills, 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
33 mi·35 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 77AToward M 59 East: UticaUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto M 59
3.2 mi·3 min·M 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 44Toward Crooks RoadUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto Crooks Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Crooks Road
Use the left / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto West Hamlin Road
1.0 mi·2 min·West Hamlin Road
12
Enter roundabout onto South Livernois Road
214 ft·4 sec·South Livernois Road
13
Continue on South Livernois Road
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Livernois Road
14
Turn right onto Dressler Lane
196 ft·13 sec·Dressler Lane
15
Turn left onto Downhill Lane
378 ft·21 sec·Downhill Lane
16
Turn left onto Dickson Lane
0.2 mi·51 sec·Dickson Lane
17
Arrive at destination
Dickson Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 23.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 44.2 — 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
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
7
40.4 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward M 59 East: Utica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 77A
Toward M 59 East: Utica
7
43.8 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward Crooks Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44
Toward Crooks Road
6
44.2 mi into trip|~49m in|Crooks Road
Turn left onto Crooks Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.21 one way
$14.42 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$7.91
$15.81
premium
$4.93
$9.02
$18.04
diesel
$5.60
$10.25
$20.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
14
0
$4.88
$2.23
Efficient EV
11.6
0
$4.07
$1.86
EV Truck/SUV
18.6
0
$6.51
$2.98
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 Aug 22, 2026
Origin
Flint, MI
Evening
in Flint on Saturday
Local time
7:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NW 6 to 9 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 22 at 7:13PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 22 at 6:53PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Destination
Rochester Hills, MI
Evening
in Rochester Hills on Saturday
Local time
7:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NW 8 to 12 mph45% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 22 at 7:13PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 22 at 6:53PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
55°F
Clarkston, MI
23 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
54m 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 predominantly highway driving, with 86% of the trip spent on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 33.1 miles on I 75 before transitioning to surface roads. Be prepared for frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate the urban and suburban areas, particularly as you approach Rochester Hills.
86% 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: 33.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
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.
Driving Effort6/10
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 46.5 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (M 21 / East Fifth Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,113 ft754 ft
Total Climb
360 ft
Total Descent
296 ft
Highest Point
1,113 ft
~23.3 mi in
Elevation Range
360 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Flint, MI to Rochester Hills, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 59 East: Utica along the way.
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 54m. Total distance: 46.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.1 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 Rochester Hills, 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 40.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rochester Hills, MI before heading back.
