Origin
Saint Clair Shores, MI
Late night in Saint Clair Shores on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Clair Shores, 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 18m
Distance
68.6 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Clair Shores, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
This 68.6-mile drive from Saint Clair Shores, MI, to Flint, MI, is a straightforward trip designed for a single day. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 18 minutes on the road, navigating primarily via the North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, Walter P. Reuther Freeway, and UAW Freeway. With 95% of the journey on highways, this is a focused drive through the Midwest region of Michigan. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, and with no recommended stops, it's a quick point-to-point journey. This route is ideal for a day trip, allowing you to easily reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 48.7 mi | 52m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| UAW Freeway | 6.5 mi | 6m |
| East 11 Mile Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| I-696 West to I-75 North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Court Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chavez Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jefferson Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 48.7 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Clair Shores, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on this road
144 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue
129 ft
·
5 sec
·
Jefferson Avenue
3
Turn right onto East 11 Mile Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
East 11 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 696 West
5
Merge onto I 696
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-696 West to I-75 North
Toward I 75 North: Flint
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 75 North: Flint
9
Merge onto I 75
49 mi
·
52 min
·
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475
6.5 mi
·
6 min
·
UAW Freeway
Exit 111
Toward I 475: Downtown Flint
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward M 21: Downtown
12
Continue on M 21
386 ft
·
17 sec
·
Chavez Drive
13
Turn left onto M 21
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Court Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left
68 ft
·
6 sec
15
Turn right
93 ft
·
6 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.3 miles from Saint Clair Shores, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 68.3 — 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
|
Jefferson Avenue
Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
11.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
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 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
7
11.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I-696 West to I-75 North
Keep slight right at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 North toward I 75 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 75 North: Flint
8
61.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 111
Toward I 475: Downtown Flint
6
68.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
M 21 / East Court Street
Turn left onto M 21 / East Court Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.72 one way
$21.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.78 | $23.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.20 | $26.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.15 | $30.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.20 | $3.29 |
| Efficient EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.60 | $4.39 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Flint, MI
Late night in Flint on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 8 mph
94% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 7:33PM EDT until April 21 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 7:33PM EDT until April 18 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
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
12 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 18m 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 highway-focused drive offers a consistent experience for most of its 68.6 miles. You'll be on high-speed freeways for approximately 95% of the trip, making for a direct and efficient journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 48.7 miles, found on the North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. While primarily a highway experience, the route transitions smoothly between different freeway designations, maintaining a steady pace. Expect a predictable driving environment as you move through Michigan's landscape.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.7 mi on North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and Walter P Reuther Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles (I-696 West to I-75 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Saint Clair Shores, MI
Full guide →St. Clair Shores is in Macomb County, Michigan and is an inner ring suburb of Detroit.
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 1h 18m. Total distance: 68.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.7 miles on North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. 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 Flint, 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 (Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles (I-696 West to I-75 North): 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 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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