Vandercook Lake to Flint is 91.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 44 minutes via US 23 BUS, I 94, and US 127, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive will take you across Michigan's Midwest region, making it a straightforward trip between two points in the state. You'll be spending most of your time on major highways, so expect a relatively quick journey. This route is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46 miles from Vandercook Lake, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23 BUS
47.2 mi
50m
I 94
28.7 mi
30m
US 127
5.2 mi
5m
M 14
4.7 mi
5m
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
2.1 mi
2m
East McDevitt Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
West Fifth Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 23 BUS
— 47.2 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vandercook Lake, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on South Maurice Avenue
0.2 mi·55 sec·South Maurice Avenue
2
Turn right onto East McDevitt Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·East McDevitt Avenue
3
Take the ramp onto BUS US 127; M 50
447 ft·10 sec·Brooklyn Road
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
5
Merge onto US 127
5.2 mi·5 min·US 127
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 94 East: Detroit
7
Merge onto I 94
29 mi·30 min·I 94
8
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14
4.7 mi·5 min·M 14
Exit 171Toward M 14: Plymouth
9
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS
47 mi·50 min·US 23 BUS
Toward US 23 North: FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Port HuronUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 69 East: Flint, Port Huron
13
Merge onto I 69
2.1 mi·2 min·Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward Saginaw Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·South Grand Traverse Street
16
Turn right onto M 21
0.3 mi·48 sec·West Fifth Street
17
Turn left onto Harrison Street
382 ft·20 sec·Harrison Street
18
Turn left onto M 21
235 ft·9 sec·East Court Street
19
Turn left
68 ft·6 sec
20
Turn right
93 ft·6 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 44-minute duration, this is an easy same-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to maximize your daylight hours. You won't need to plan for extensive stops, but consider a brief break around the halfway point if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially for the 47.2-mile stretch on US 23 BUS, and ensure you're topped up before you begin that segment. The $14 fuel cost suggests this is an economical drive.
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 46 miles from Vandercook Lake, MI, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46 miles or 52m 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 23m
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 Vandercook Lake, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Vandercook Lake, MI
This is one driving day of about 91.9 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Vandercook Lake, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 23 BUS for about 47.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.9 and 91 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
35.9 mi into trip|~41m in|M 14
Keep slight left at fork onto M 14 toward M 14: Plymouth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 171
Toward M 14: Plymouth
7
40.6 mi into trip|~46m in|US 23 BUS
Keep left at fork onto US 23 BUS toward US 23 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 23 North: Flint
7
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
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 I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
7
88.1 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
7
91 mi into trip|~1h 41m 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
$14.37 one way
$28.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.77
$31.55
premium
$4.89
$17.69
$35.37
diesel
$5.61
$20.29
$40.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.6
0
$9.65
$4.41
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.04
$3.68
EV Truck/SUV
36.8
0
$12.87
$5.88
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Vandercook Lake, MI
Morning
in Vandercook Lake on Tuesday
Local time
9:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Flint, MI
Morning
in Flint on Tuesday
Local time
9:07 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
3 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
1h 44m 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 91% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll encounter stretches on US 23 BUS, I 94, and US 127, indicating a predominantly high-speed experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 47.2 miles on US 23 BUS, offering a significant period of consistent travel. Expect the road character to remain largely consistent, characterized by efficient highway driving rather than winding country lanes or intricate city navigation.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.2 mi on US 23 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 BUS and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.9 miles in near M 14.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.9 miles you will encounter 19 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 35.9 miles (M 14): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 40.6 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Vandercook Lake, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 14: Plymouth along the way.
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 44m. Total distance: 91.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.2 miles on US 23 BUS. 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: at 35.9 miles (M 14): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 40.6 miles (US 23 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Flint, MI before heading back.
