This straightforward 82.1-mile drive from Tompkins to Flint, Michigan, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, it's an economical option for traversing the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes major roads like I 69 BL and US 127, making it a predictable journey. You'll find this drive to be efficient and practical, perfect for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. Since it's a relatively short distance, there's no need to break it up with an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41 miles from Tompkins, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69 BL
41.5 mi
42m
US 127
26 mi
27m
East Saginaw Street
5.2 mi
8m
Maple Lane Road
2.4 mi
5m
Wood Road
1.5 mi
3m
West Berry Road
1.1 mi
2m
Dixon Road
1 mi
2m
Saginaw Highway
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 69 BL
— 41.5 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tompkins, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on Tompkins Road
39 ft·7 sec·Tompkins Road
2
Turn left onto Woodard Road
0.2 mi·33 sec·Woodard Road
3
Turn left onto Maple Lane Road
2.4 mi·5 min·Maple Lane Road
4
Turn left onto Dixon Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Dixon Road
5
Turn right onto Wood Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Wood Road
6
Continue on West Main Street
0.4 mi·57 sec·West Main Street
7
Turn right onto Rives Eaton Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Rives Eaton Road
8
Turn left onto West Berry Road
1.1 mi·2 min·West Berry Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 127 North: Lansing
10
Merge onto US 127
25 mi·26 min·US 127
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 127
1.1 mi·1 min·US 127
Exit 8Toward US 127 North: Clare
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 69 Business, M 43: Saginaw Street, Grand River Avenue
13
Turn straight onto North Homer Street
265 ft·11 sec·North Homer Street
14
Turn right onto I 69 BL; M 43
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Saginaw Street
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 BL
5.0 mi·7 min·East Saginaw Street
16
Continue on I 69 BL
0.7 mi·1 min·Saginaw Highway
17
Take the ramp onto I 69 BL
0.2 mi·27 sec·I 69 BL
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 BL
41 mi·42 min·I 69 BL
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward Saginaw Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·South Grand Traverse Street
21
Turn right onto M 21
0.3 mi·48 sec·West Fifth Street
22
Turn left onto Harrison Street
382 ft·20 sec·Harrison Street
23
Turn left onto M 21
235 ft·9 sec·East Court Street
24
Turn left
68 ft·6 sec
25
Turn right
93 ft·6 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 40-minute duration, this route offers great flexibility. You can leave Tompkins at your leisure, perhaps after a relaxed breakfast. With no mandatory stops included in the data, you can tailor your journey to your preferences. The estimated fuel cost of $13 makes it an affordable trip, so budgeting is simple. A practical tip for this drive: pay attention to signage for I 69 BL as it's the longest uninterrupted stretch, ensuring you stay on course for Flint.
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 41 miles from Tompkins, MI, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.5 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 18 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 56m 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 26m
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 Tompkins, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tompkins, MI
This is one driving day of about 82.1 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Tompkins, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 69 BL for about 41.5 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 81.1 — 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|Woodard Road
Turn left onto Woodard Road
Navigation decision point
5
7.2 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp toward US 127 North: Lansing
Navigation decision point
Toward US 127 North: Lansing
6
32.4 mi into trip|~44m in|US 127
Keep slight right at fork onto US 127 toward US 127 North: Clare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 8
Toward US 127 North: Clare
5
33.5 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward I 69 Business, M 43: Saginaw Street, Grand River Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 69 Business, M 43: Saginaw Street, Gra...
7
81.1 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward Saginaw Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Saginaw Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.84 one way
$25.67 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.09
$28.19
premium
$4.89
$15.80
$31.60
diesel
$5.61
$18.13
$36.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.6
0
$8.62
$3.94
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.18
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.49
$5.25
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Tompkins, MI
Morning
in Tompkins on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Flint, MI
Morning
in Flint on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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 40m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 82% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the journey, including a significant stretch of 41.5 miles on I 69 BL. The main roads, including East Saginaw Street, are designed for efficient travel, so expect smooth sailing for the majority of your trip. While the profile suggests a strong highway component, keep an eye out for any transitions as you approach your destination in Flint.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.5 mi on I 69 BL.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 BL and US 127. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Woodard Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 (Woodard Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 32.4 miles (US 127): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 82.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.5 miles on I 69 BL. 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 (Woodard Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 32.4 miles (US 127): 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.
