Origin
Central Lake, MI
Morning in Central Lake on Saturday
Local time
10:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Central Lake, MI to Flint, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 4m
Distance
191.4 mi
308 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 53m
★
6 AM
3h 5m
8 AM
3h 28m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 14m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Central Lake, MI
Federico Abis
Trip Overview
The drive from Central Lake, MI to Flint, MI covers 191.4 miles and takes about 3h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West State Street, South Main Street, North M-88 Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
95.7 miles from Central Lake, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 191.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 4m drive with frequent turns across 191.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West State Street 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Central Lake, MI to Flint, MI is easy. At 3h 4m 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 Central Lake, MI to Flint, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West State Street | — | — |
| South Main Street | — | — |
| North M-88 Highway | — | — |
| North Bridge Street | — | — |
| East Cayuga Street | — | — |
| Cayuga/Division Cutoff | — | — |
| South Division Street | — | — |
| South M-88 Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West State Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central Lake, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on the route
59 ft
·
6 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto West State Street
141 ft
·
6 sec
·
West State Street
3
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on North M-88 Highway
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
North M-88 Highway
5
Continue on North Bridge Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Bridge Street
6
Turn left onto East Cayuga Street
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
East Cayuga Street
7
Turn straight onto Cayuga/Division Cutoff
312 ft
·
5 sec
·
Cayuga/Division Cutoff
8
Continue on South Division Street
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Division Street
9
Continue on South M-88 Highway
10 mi
·
13 min
·
South M-88 Highway
10
Continue on West State Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
11
Turn right onto Maple Street
266 ft
·
13 sec
·
Maple Street
12
Turn right onto South Williams Street
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Williams Street
13
Turn slight left onto Maple Street
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Maple Street
14
Continue on Darragh Road
11 mi
·
18 min
·
Darragh Road
15
Continue on Sigma Road Southeast
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Sigma Road Southeast
16
Turn left onto M-72 East
18 mi
·
24 min
·
M-72 East
17
Turn right onto North James Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North James Street
18
Take the exit straight toward I 75 South
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 75 South
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
124 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
20
Keep slight right to continue on UAW Freeway
10.0 mi
·
10 min
·
UAW Freeway
21
Take the exit slight right toward M 21
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
M 21
22
Continue on Chavez Drive
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Chavez Drive
23
Turn right onto East Court Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Court Street
24
Turn left
69 ft
·
7 sec
25
Turn right
92 ft
·
7 sec
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 95.7 miles from Central Lake, MI, or about 1h 32m 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 42 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.7 miles or 1h 32m 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 31m
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 Central Lake, 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 Central Lake, MI
This is one driving day of about 191.4 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Central Lake, 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 95.7 mi from Central Lake, MI · 1h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.7 miles from Central Lake, 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
$29.92 one way
$59.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.85 | $65.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.83 | $73.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.26 | $84.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.4 | 0 | $20.10 | $9.19 |
| Efficient EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.75 | $7.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.6 | 0 | $26.80 | $12.25 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Morning in Flint on Saturday
Local time
10:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
West Branch, MI
96 mi in
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
4 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
3h 4m 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 Central Lake, MI to Flint, MI covers 191.4 miles and takes about 3h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West State Street, South Main Street, North M-88 Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95.7 miles from Central Lake, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.92 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 Central Lake, MI to Flint, MI is easy. At 3h 4m 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 Central Lake, MI to Flint, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Central Lake, MI to Flint, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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