Origin
Alpena, MI
Afternoon in Alpena on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alpena, MI to Flint, MI
Drive Time
3h 1m
Distance
184.8 mi
297 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
Alpena, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
Driving from Alpena to Flint covers 184.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 1 minute. This route functions perfectly as a single-day trip, so there is no need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $27 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating through the Midwest, you will transition from the coastal feel of Alpena down into the more industrial landscape of Flint. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it is best suited for drivers who prefer a more hands-on, turn-heavy experience. It is a straightforward trip that gets you from point A to point B without the need for complex multi-day planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.4 miles from Alpena, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating via South 3rd Avenue, West Washington Avenue, and West Huron Road. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on South 3rd Avenue, you should remain alert and prepared for frequent adjustments behind the wheel. The road's personality is defined by constant movement through local infrastructure, providing a much different feel than a standard high-speed commute. Stay focused, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be actively managing your turns for the duration of the 184.8-mile journey.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 3rd Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Alpena, MI to Flint, MI is easy. At 3h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alpena, MI to Flint, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 3rd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Washington Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Huron Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Center Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Cedar Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West M-61 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 75 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South 3rd Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alpena, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on East Chisholm Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Chisholm Street
2
Turn left onto South 3rd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
South 3rd Avenue
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Washington Avenue
15 mi
·
19 min
·
West Washington Avenue
4
Continue straight
82 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
5
Turn right onto West Huron Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Huron Road
6
Continue on Center Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Road
7
Continue on West Huron Road
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
West Huron Road
8
Continue on North Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
9
Turn right onto West Cedar Street
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Cedar Street
10
Continue on West M-61
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West M-61
11
Take the ramp left toward I 75 South: Saginaw
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 75 South: Saginaw
12
Merge slight left onto Saginaw
65 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
Saginaw
13
Keep slight right to continue on UAW Freeway
10.0 mi
·
10 min
·
UAW Freeway
14
Take the exit slight right toward M 21
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
M 21
15
Continue on Chavez Drive
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Chavez Drive
16
Turn right onto East Court Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Court Street
17
Turn left
69 ft
·
7 sec
18
Turn right
92 ft
·
7 sec
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since this is an easy day trip, but leaving early helps you avoid potential congestion on local roads. You only need to build one stop into your itinerary to stay refreshed during the 3-hour drive. Keep your fuel budget of $27 in mind, and consider filling up before you leave Alpena to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted run. Because this route relies entirely on local roads, be mindful of changing speed limits and traffic patterns that shift as you move between towns. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so take advantage of the short duration to pace yourself comfortably without feeling rushed to reach Flint.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 92.4 miles from Alpena, MI, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.4 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 28m
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 Alpena, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alpena, MI
This is one driving day of about 184.8 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alpena, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92.4 mi from Alpena, MI · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92.4 miles from Alpena, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Flint, MI
The final approach into Flint, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Flint, MI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.07 one way
$56.14 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $30.94 | $61.89 |
| premium | $4.80 | $34.89 | $69.77 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $41.06 | $82.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.4 | 0 | $19.40 | $8.87 |
| Efficient EV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.17 | $7.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.9 | 0 | $25.87 | $11.83 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Flint, MI
Afternoon in Flint on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
6 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
3h 1m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alpena, MI to Flint, MI covers 184.8 miles and takes about 3h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 3rd Avenue, West Washington Avenue, West Huron Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92.4 miles from Alpena, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.07 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Alpena, MI to Flint, MI is easy. At 3h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alpena, MI to Flint, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Alpena, MI to Flint, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Flint, MI
More from Alpena, MI
More trips to Flint, MI
Explore more options from Alpena, MI or browse trips ending in Flint, MI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.
Explore maps for Alpena, MI or Flint, MI on MapSof.net.