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Trip from Lake Isabella, MI to Flint, MI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 8m

Distance

103.4 mi

166 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
2h 0m ★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Lake Isabella, MI, MI

Lake Isabella, MI

sevim karakoç

Trip Overview

Lake Isabella, MI to Flint, MI is 103.4 miles and takes about 2h 8m via I 75 and West Isabella Road/Lyon Road, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip within Michigan, connecting two points in the Midwest. The drive is predominantly on main roads, making it a practical choice for a quick journey. With a relatively short duration, you won't need to worry about extensive planning or overnight stays, allowing for a flexible schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

51.7 miles from Lake Isabella, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 36.3 mi 38m
West Isabella Road 14.9 mi 20m
Lyon Road 14.7 mi 15m
West River Road 11 mi 16m
UAW Freeway 10 mi 10m
East Pickard Road 6 mi 8m
Isabella Street 3 mi 4m
North Coldwater Road 1.3 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 36.3 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Isabella, MI and Flint, MI.

1

Start on North Clubhouse Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Clubhouse Drive
2

At end of road, turn right onto North Coldwater Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Coldwater Road
3

Turn left onto West River Road

11 mi · 16 min · West River Road
4

Turn right onto Craig Hill Road

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Craig Hill Road
5

Turn straight onto South Mission Road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · South Mission Road
6

Turn left onto East River Road

0.5 mi · 46 sec · East River Road
7

Turn left onto River Road

0.6 mi · 50 sec · River Road
8

Turn right onto South Isabella Road

0.5 mi · 46 sec · South Isabella Road
9

Turn left onto East Airport Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Airport Road
10

Turn right onto South Summerton Road

0.5 mi · 47 sec · South Summerton Road
11

Turn left onto M 20

6.0 mi · 8 min · East Pickard Road
12

Continue on M 20

15 mi · 20 min · West Isabella Road
13

Continue on M 20

3.0 mi · 4 min · Isabella Street
14

Continue on M 20

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Fitzhugh Street
15

Continue on M 20

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Jerome Street
16

Turn right onto US 10 BUS; M 20

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Buttles Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Turn straight onto US 10 BUS; M 20

15 mi · 15 min · Lyon Road
Use the straight lane.
18

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Exit 140A Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw
19

Merge onto I 75; US 23

36 mi · 38 min · I 75; US 23
20

Keep slight right at fork onto I 475

10.0 mi · 10 min · UAW Freeway
Exit 125 Toward I 475: Downtown Flint
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 7 Toward M 21
22

Continue on Chavez Drive

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Chavez Drive
23

Turn right onto M 21

0.2 mi · 31 sec · East Court Street
Use the right lane.
24

Turn left

68 ft · 6 sec
25

Turn right

93 ft · 6 sec
26

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the short 2-hour duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so leaving anytime in the morning or early afternoon works well. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $16, and there are no designated stops mentioned, so plan your refueling accordingly. The longest stretch without a break is over 36 miles on I 75, so consider a quick stretch before embarking on that segment. Since the drive is relatively brief, you have the flexibility to depart on your own schedule.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.7 miles from Lake Isabella, MI, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.3 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 23 miles or 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 51.7 miles or 1h 12m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Flint, MI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lake Isabella, 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 Lake Isabella, MI

This is one driving day of about 103.4 miles and 2h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Lake Isabella, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 36.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Midland County, Michigan, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Midland, MI

52 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Midland, MI to Flint, MI

63 mi · 1h 9m

Pacing Suggestions

Wise, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Freeland, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.7 miles from Lake Isabella, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best coffee break · first break window

Ponder Coffee Company - Downtown

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mt Pleasant, Michigan

Near the start, short detour

First break · 18min in 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm

+19893170808

Visit website

Creation Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mt Pleasant, Michigan

2.6 mi

Stardust Entertainment Center

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Final third 4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

Saginaw, Michigan

Hours: 12–11 pm

+19897936300

Visit website

Ponder Coffee Company - Downtown

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Mt Pleasant, Michigan

Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm

+19893170808

Visit website

Creation Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Mt Pleasant, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+19894886914

Visit website

Sloan Museum of Discovery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Flint, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18102373450

Visit website

Flint Children's Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Flint, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18107675437

Visit website

Marshall M Fredericks Sculpture Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

University Center, Michigan

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+19899647125

Visit website

Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Flint, Michigan

Hours: Closed

+18107367100

Visit website

Dahlia Hill Society

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Midland, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+19896310100

Visit website

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Flint, Michigan

Hours: 12–8 pm

+18104078972

Visit website

Airborne Adventure Park - Saginaw, MI

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Final third 4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

Saginaw, Michigan

Hours: 4–8 pm

+19895960022

Visit website

Michigan Heroes Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19896528005

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 40.6 and 103.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
40.6 mi into trip | ~59m in | US 10 BUS; M 20 / West Buttles Street

Turn right onto US 10 BUS; M 20 / West Buttles Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
56 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 140A Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw
6
92.7 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | I 475 / UAW Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 475 / UAW Freeway toward I 475: Downtown Flint

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 125 Toward I 475: Downtown Flint
5
102.7 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in

Take the exit toward M 21

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 7 Toward M 21
6
103.1 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | M 21 / East Court Street

Turn right onto M 21 / East Court Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.17 one way

$32.33 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.75 $35.50
premium $4.89 $19.90 $39.80
diesel $5.61 $22.83 $45.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31 0 $10.86 $4.96
Efficient EV 25.9 0 $9.05 $4.14
EV Truck/SUV 41.4 0 $14.48 $6.62

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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 Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Lake Isabella, MI

Late night in Lake Isabella on Tuesday

Local time

5:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Flint, MI

Late night in Flint on Tuesday

Local time

5:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 14 mph 81% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 18 at 3:10AM EDT until April 19 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Flash Flood Watch

Flash Flood Watch issued April 18 at 3:10AM EDT until April 19 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

41°F

Midland, MI

52 mi in

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

21 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

2h 8m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route offers a mixed drive experience, with about 45% of the journey on highways, primarily I 75. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced driving interspersed with more local road sections. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 36.3 miles on I 75, providing a good opportunity for consistent speed. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift from interstate travel to more community-oriented roadways as you approach your destination.

45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.3 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 40.6 miles in near US 10 BUS; M 20 / West Buttles Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 103.4 miles you will encounter 18 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: at 40.6 miles (US 10 BUS; M 20 / West Buttles Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.7 miles (I 475 / UAW Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

About the Cities

Arriving in Flint, MI

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 103.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 36.3 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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: at 40.6 miles (US 10 BUS; M 20 / West Buttles Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.7 miles (I 475 / UAW Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Flint, MI before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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