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Trip from Dafter, MI to Flint, MI

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

4h 44m

Distance

272.7 mi

439 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 31m ★
6 AM
4h 44m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 53m
12 PM
4h 51m
3 PM
4h 55m
5 PM
5h 10m
8 PM
4h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Dafter, MI, MI

Dafter, MI

Wolrider YURTSEVEN

Trip Overview

The drive from Dafter, MI to Flint, MI covers 272.7 miles and takes about 4h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, UAW Freeway, South Soo Line Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 260.1 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.63 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

136.3 miles from Dafter, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 4h 44m highway drive covering 272.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and UAW Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 260.1 miles on I 75.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 260.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and UAW Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 44m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 137.8 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 262 miles (I 475 / UAW Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
1.5 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward I 75 South: Saint Ignace

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 75 South: Saint Ignace
6
137.8 mi into trip | ~2h 24m in | I 75

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
6
262 mi into trip | ~4h 31m in | I 475 / UAW Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 475 / UAW Freeway toward I 475: Downtown Flint

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 125 Toward I 475: Downtown Flint
5
271.9 mi into trip | ~4h 42m in

Take the exit toward M 21

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 7 Toward M 21
6
272.4 mi into trip | ~4h 43m in | M 21 / East Court Street

Turn right onto M 21 / East Court Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

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 Dafter, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.

Detroit

137.8 mi in | ~2h 24m | via I 75

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 260.1 mi 4h 26m
UAW Freeway 10 mi 10m
South Soo Line Road 1 mi 3m
M 28 0.5 mi <1m
East Court Street 0.2 mi <1m
Chavez Drive 0.2 mi <1m
West 10 Mile Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 260.1 mi, about 4h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dafter, MI and Flint, MI.

1

Start on West 10 Mile Road

50 ft · 7 sec · West 10 Mile Road
2

Turn left onto South Soo Line Road

1.0 mi · 3 min · South Soo Line Road
3

Turn right onto M 28

0.5 mi · 38 sec · M 28
4

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 75 South: Saint Ignace
5

Merge onto I 75

136 mi · 2 hr 19 min · I 75
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

124 mi · 2 hr 7 min · I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 475

10.0 mi · 10 min · UAW Freeway
Exit 125 Toward I 475: Downtown Flint
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 7 Toward M 21
9

Continue on Chavez Drive

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Chavez Drive
10

Turn right onto M 21

0.2 mi · 31 sec · East Court Street
Use the right lane.
11

Turn left

68 ft · 6 sec
12

Turn right

93 ft · 6 sec
13

Arrive at 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 136.3 miles from Dafter, MI, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 260.1 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 80 miles or 1h 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 136.3 miles or 2h 23m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 52m

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 Dafter, 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 Dafter, MI

This is one driving day of about 272.7 miles and 4h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dafter, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 260.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 136.3 mi from Dafter, MI · 2h 23m into the drive

suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Evanston, IL

136 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

Boyne City, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Evanston, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 136.3 miles from Dafter, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 260.1 miles.

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.63 one way

$85.27 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 95 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $46.81 $93.62
premium $4.89 $52.48 $104.96
diesel $5.61 $60.21 $120.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 95.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 81.8 1 $28.63 $13.09
Efficient EV 68.2 0 $23.86 $10.91
EV Truck/SUV 109.1 1 $38.18 $17.45

Gas CO2

95 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 23 hours ago

Origin

Dafter, MI

Late night in Dafter on Wednesday

Local time

5:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Flint, MI

Late night in Flint on Wednesday

Local time

5:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 10 mph 49% chance 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

26 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

4h 44m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Dafter, MI to Flint, MI covers 272.7 miles and takes about 4h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, UAW Freeway, South Soo Line Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.3 miles from Dafter, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.63 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 44m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 137.8 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 262 miles (I 475 / UAW Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Dafter, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.

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Return Trip

Flint, MI to Dafter, MI

Plan the drive back the other way.

272.8 mi 4h 45m

Explore more options from Dafter, MI or browse trips ending in Flint, MI.

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