Ypsilanti to Flint is 62.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 13 minutes via US 23, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Michigan. It's a short enough drive that you won't need an overnight stay, making it ideal for a quick excursion or a commute. Expect a route that's primarily highway, so it's more about efficient travel than a leisurely scenic tour. This is a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 23
54.1 mi
57m
Washtenaw Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
2.1 mi
2m
West Cross Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Huron Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West Fifth Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Harrison Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 23
— 54.1 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ypsilanti, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on US 12 BUS; M 17
31 ft·3 sec·West Michigan Avenue
2
Turn right onto M 17
0.3 mi·49 sec·North Huron Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto M 17
0.6 mi·1 min·West Cross Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn straight onto M 17
2.9 mi·5 min·Washtenaw Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward US 23 North: Flint
6
Merge onto US 23
6.9 mi·7 min·US 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
47 mi·50 min·US 23
Toward US 23 North: Brighton, FlintUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Port HuronUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 69 East: Flint, Port Huron
11
Merge onto I 69
2.1 mi·2 min·Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward Saginaw Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·South Grand Traverse Street
14
Turn right onto M 21
0.3 mi·48 sec·West Fifth Street
15
Turn left onto Harrison Street
382 ft·20 sec·Harrison Street
16
Turn left onto M 21
235 ft·9 sec·East Court Street
17
Turn left
68 ft·6 sec
18
Turn right
93 ft·6 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 31.2 miles from Ypsilanti, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 61.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|M 17 / North Huron Street
Turn right onto M 17 / North Huron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
11.2 mi into trip|~15m in|US 23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23 toward US 23 North: Brighton, Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 23 North: Brighton, Flint
7
58.3 mi into trip|~1h 5m 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
58.6 mi into trip|~1h 6m 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
61.5 mi into trip|~1h 10m 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
$9.76 one way
$19.51 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$10.71
$21.42
premium
$4.89
$12.01
$24.02
diesel
$5.61
$13.78
$27.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.7
0
$6.55
$3.00
Efficient EV
15.6
0
$5.46
$2.50
EV Truck/SUV
25
0
$8.74
$3.99
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Ypsilanti, MI
Late night
in Ypsilanti on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 14 mph66% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:21PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued April 16 at 1:53PM EDT until April 17 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Destination
Flint, MI
Late night
in Flint on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Brighton, MI
31 mi in
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
26 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 13m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 90% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll spend the bulk of your time on US 23, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.1 miles. The character is predominantly that of a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll experience consistent speeds and the efficiency of major roadways. While the route is direct, keep in mind that much of it will feel like a standard interstate experience, designed for covering ground quickly. The transition from local roads to the main highway arteries is generally smooth and swift.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.1 mi on US 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and Washtenaw Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near M 17 / North Huron Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 (M 17 / North Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles (US 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.3 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 Ypsilanti, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Port Huron along the way.
Port Huron
58.3 mi in|~1h 5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 62.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.1 miles on US 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
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 (M 17 / North Huron Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles (US 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.3 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.
