Leland to Flint is 209.1 miles and takes about 4h 19m via US 10 and I 75, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within Michigan, moving from the Midwest's northern reaches toward its more central areas. The route offers a mix of highway speeds and surface road cruising, making it a straightforward drive. It's a one-day trip that should feel manageable without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
104.5 miles from Leland, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
57 mi
57m
West M-115 Highway
55.6 mi
1h 16m
I 75
36.3 mi
38m
County Road 633
10.9 mi
17m
UAW Freeway
10 mi
10m
North M-37 Highway
6.9 mi
9m
South Good Harbor Trail
6.5 mi
8m
North Manitou Trail
5.8 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 57 mi, about 57m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,394 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,789
Quietest
2 AM
~106 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Leland, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on River Street
80 ft·9 sec·River Street
2
Turn left onto M 22
0.3 mi·44 sec·South Main Street
3
Continue on M 22
280 ft·6 sec·South Main Street
4
Continue on M 22
5.8 mi·8 min·North Manitou Trail
5
Turn left onto CR 651
6.5 mi·8 min·South Good Harbor Trail
6
Continue on CR 651
0.4 mi·39 sec·Kasson Street
7
Continue on CR 651; CR 616
5.3 mi·8 min·South Cedar Road
8
Turn left onto M 72
1.0 mi·1 min·East Traverse Highway
9
Turn right onto Tilton Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Tilton Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto Cedar Run Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Cedar Run Road
11
Turn right onto Strait Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Strait Road
12
Turn left onto CR 610
0.1 mi·12 sec·North Long Lake Road
13
Continue on East Long Lake Road
2.1 mi·2 min·East Long Lake Road
14
Turn left onto Secor Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Secor Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto CR 633
3.7 mi·5 min·North West Silver Lake Road
16
Continue on CR 633
11 mi·17 min·County Road 633
17
Continue on North 13 Road
0.7 mi·1 min·North 13 Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto M 37
6.9 mi·9 min·North M-37 Highway
19
Enter roundabout onto M 115
210 ft·2 sec·West M-115 Highway
20
Continue on M 115
354 ft·5 sec·West M-115 Highway
21
Merge onto M 115
55 mi·1 hr 16 min·West M-115 Highway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 10 East: Clare
23
Merge onto US 10
11 mi·10 min·US 10
24
Take the exit onto US 10
46 mi·46 min·US 10
Toward US 10 EAST: Midland, Bay City
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 140AToward I 75 South, US 23 South: Saginaw
26
Merge onto I 75; US 23
36 mi·38 min·I 75; US 23
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475
10.0 mi·10 min·UAW Freeway
Exit 125Toward I 475: Downtown Flint
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 7Toward M 21
29
Continue on Chavez Drive
0.2 mi·34 sec·Chavez Drive
30
Turn right onto M 21
0.2 mi·31 sec·East Court Street
Use the right lane.
31
Turn left
68 ft·6 sec
32
Turn right
93 ft·6 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 19m estimated duration, starting your drive in the morning from Leland will allow ample time to reach Flint before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in where and when you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $33 estimate is based on current prices and your vehicle's efficiency. The longest stretch without a major break point is 57 miles on US 10, so plan accordingly for that segment.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.5 miles from Leland, MI, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 46 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.5 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 37m
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 Leland, 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 Leland, MI
This is one driving day of about 209.1 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Leland, 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 US 10 for about 57 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.3 and 208.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.3 mi into trip|~30m in|Cedar Run Road
At end of road, turn left onto Cedar Run Road
Navigation decision point
5
26.7 mi into trip|~38m in|CR 633 / North West Silver Lake Road
At end of road, turn right onto CR 633 / North West Silver Lake Road
Navigation decision point
6
161.6 mi into trip|~3h 26m 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
198.3 mi into trip|~4h 6m 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
6
208.8 mi into trip|~4h 18m 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
$30.88 one way
$61.76 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.09
$68.18
premium
$4.72
$38.82
$77.65
diesel
$4.80
$39.48
$78.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.7
0
$21.96
$10.04
Efficient EV
52.3
0
$18.30
$8.36
EV Truck/SUV
83.6
1
$29.27
$13.38
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Leland, MI
Morning
in Leland on Sunday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Areas Of Smoke
N 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 4:47PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 2:47PM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Destination
Flint, MI
Morning
in Flint on Sunday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Smoke
N 5 to 13 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 4:47PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 2:47PM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacula...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$25
near mile 7.2
Caution: May Prescribed Fire in Platte Plains Area
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About half of this 209.1-mile drive, roughly 49%, is on highways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on US 10, covering 57 miles. Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between the interstate and surface roads, particularly as you move away from the highway segments. The route involves merging onto and off of I 75, so be prepared for typical interstate traffic patterns.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57 mi on US 10.
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 22 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20.3 miles in near Cedar Run Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 209.1 miles you will encounter 22 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 20.3 miles (Cedar Run Road): Navigation decision point; at 26.7 miles (CR 633 / North West Silver Lake Road): Navigation decision point; at 161.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,440 ft589 ft
Total Climb
1,010 ft
Total Descent
854 ft
Highest Point
1,440 ft
~74.7 mi in
Elevation Range
852 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 Leland, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Bay City along the way.
Leland is a village in Leelanau County, Michigan (also known as the Leelanau Peninsula on the shore of Lake Michigan. Leland is the site of the oldest and largest Ottawa village on the Leelanau Peninsula named Mishi-me-go-bing, "the place where canoes run up into the river to land, because they have no harbor". European settlement began when the Antoine Manseau family came from North Manitou Island in 1853.
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 4h 19m. Total distance: 209.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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.
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 20.3 miles (Cedar Run Road): Navigation decision point; at 26.7 miles (CR 633 / North West Silver Lake Road): Navigation decision point; at 161.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Flint, MI, but most travelers stay overnight.
