Origin
Nelson, MI
Late night in Nelson on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nelson, MI to Flint, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
57.1 mi
92 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nelson, MI
Roberto Gonzalez
Trip Overview
This 57.1-mile drive from Nelson to Flint, Michigan, is a straightforward 1-hour and 12-minute journey, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate on I-75 and Gratiot Road, with a portion on the UAW Freeway. With a projected fuel cost of around $9, this route offers an economical way to travel within the Midwest. The mixed drive profile means you'll experience both highway and local road conditions. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 23.2 mi | 24m |
| Gratiot Road | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| UAW Freeway | 10 mi | 10m |
| South Hemlock Road | 5.6 mi | 13m |
| East Holland Avenue | 2 mi | 2m |
| Rust Avenue Bridge | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Gratiot Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Stephens Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 23.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nelson, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on Nelson Road
132 ft
·
10 sec
·
Nelson Road
2
Turn left onto South Hemlock Road
5.6 mi
·
13 min
·
South Hemlock Road
3
Turn right onto M 46
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Saginaw Street
4
Continue on M 46
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Gratiot Road
5
Continue on M 46
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Gratiot Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto M 46
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Stephens Street
7
Continue on M 46
464 ft
·
6 sec
·
Rust Street
8
Continue on M 46
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Rust Avenue Bridge
9
Continue on M 46
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Warren Avenue
10
Turn right onto M 46
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Holland Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Enter roundabout
238 ft
·
13 sec
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
12
Continue
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
13
Merge onto I 75; US 23
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 75; US 23
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475
10.0 mi
·
10 min
·
UAW Freeway
Exit 125
Toward I 475: Downtown Flint
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 7
Toward M 21
16
Continue on Chavez Drive
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Chavez Drive
17
Turn right onto M 21
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Court Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left
68 ft
·
6 sec
19
Turn right
93 ft
·
6 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.6 miles from Nelson, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 20.9 and 56.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
M 46 / East Holland Avenue
Turn right onto M 46 / East Holland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
22.9 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Enter roundabout toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South, US 23 South: Flint
6
46.4 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
56.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward M 21
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 7
Toward M 21
6
56.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
$8.93 one way
$17.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.80 | $19.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.99 | $21.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.61 | $25.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Flint, MI
Late night in Flint on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this 57.1-mile route, with 58% of it being highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.2 miles on I-75, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. As you transition between the interstate and roads like Gratiot Road and the UAW Freeway, you'll notice the change in traffic patterns and speed limits. This blend of faster highway segments and more localized road travel characterizes the drive, providing a dynamic feel without being overly demanding.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.2 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20.9 miles in near M 46 / East Holland Avenue.
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 57.1 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: at 20.9 miles (M 46 / East Holland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.4 miles (I 475 / UAW Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 57.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 20.9 miles (M 46 / East Holland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.4 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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