Origin
Dollar Bay, MI
Late night in Dollar Bay on Saturday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dollar Bay, 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
7h 57m
Distance
492.4 mi
792 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$77
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 49m
★
6 AM
7h 58m
8 AM
8h 15m
10 AM
8h 4m
12 PM
8h 2m
3 PM
8h 5m
5 PM
8h 14m
8 PM
7h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dollar Bay, MI
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
The drive from Dollar Bay, MI to Flint, MI covers 492.4 miles and takes about 7h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Houghton-Hancock Lift Bridge, US 41 South, West Montezuma Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $76.98 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
246.2 miles from Dollar Bay, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 58m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 57m. Total distance: 492.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 57m drive with frequent turns across 492.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Houghton-Hancock Lift Bridge 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 57m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dollar Bay, MI to Flint, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Houghton-Hancock Lift Bridge | — | — |
| US 41 South | — | — |
| West Montezuma Avenue | — | — |
| College Avenue | — | — |
| Townsend Drive | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| Palms Avenue | — | — |
| US-41 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Houghton-Hancock Lift Bridge
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dollar Bay, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on Royce Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Royce Road
2
Continue on Houghton-Hancock Lift Bridge
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Houghton-Hancock Lift Bridge
3
Turn left onto US 41 South
276 ft
·
9 sec
·
US 41 South
4
Continue on West Montezuma Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Montezuma Avenue
5
Merge slight left onto College Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
College Avenue
6
Continue on Townsend Drive
84 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
Townsend Drive
7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
92 ft
·
5 sec
·
the route
8
Exit the rotary
0.9 mi
·
1 min
9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Palms Avenue
95 ft
·
6 sec
·
Palms Avenue
10
Exit the roundabout onto Palms Avenue
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Palms Avenue
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US-41/M-28
115 ft
·
7 sec
·
US-41/M-28
12
Exit the roundabout onto US-41/M-28
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
US-41/M-28
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward US-41/M-28
102 ft
·
6 sec
·
US-41/M-28
14
Exit the roundabout onto US-41/M-28
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US-41/M-28
15
Continue on Marquette Bypass
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Marquette Bypass
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Marquette Bypass
108 ft
·
6 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
17
Exit the roundabout onto Marquette Bypass
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Marquette Bypass
108 ft
·
1 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
19
Exit the roundabout onto Marquette Bypass
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Marquette Bypass
20
Take the exit slight right
410 ft
·
10 sec
21
Merge slight left onto South Front Street
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Front Street
22
Continue on US-41/M-28
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US-41/M-28
23
Turn left onto M-28
36 mi
·
42 min
·
M-28
24
Continue on West Munising Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
West Munising Avenue
25
Exit the roundabout onto Cedar Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Cedar Street
26
Continue on M-28
35 mi
·
41 min
·
M-28
27
Turn sharp right
17 mi
·
20 min
28
At the end of the road, turn left
65 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
29
Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
30
Merge slight left
94 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
31
Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
124 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
32
Keep slight right to continue on UAW Freeway
10.0 mi
·
10 min
·
UAW Freeway
33
Take the exit slight right toward M 21
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
M 21
34
Continue on Chavez Drive
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Chavez Drive
35
Turn right onto East Court Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Court Street
36
Turn left
69 ft
·
7 sec
37
Turn right
92 ft
·
7 sec
38
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 246.2 miles from Dollar Bay, MI, or about 3h 58m 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 108 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 246.2 miles or 3h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 59m
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 Dollar Bay, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dollar Bay, MI
This is one driving day of about 492.4 miles and 7h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from Dollar Bay, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 246.2 mi from Dollar Bay, MI · 3h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
246 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 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 246.2 miles from Dollar Bay, 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
$76.98 one way
$153.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
172 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $84.52 | $169.04 |
| premium | $4.89 | $94.76 | $189.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $108.72 | $217.43 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.00
Mackinac Bridge
$4.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 172.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 147.7 | 1 | $51.70 | $23.64 |
| Efficient EV | 123.1 | 1 | $43.08 | $19.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 197 | 2 | $68.94 | $31.51 |
Gas CO2
172 kg
EV CO2
58 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.
Destination
Flint, MI
Late night in Flint on Saturday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
33°F
Laketon, MI
246 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
8 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
7h 57m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Dollar Bay, MI to Flint, MI covers 492.4 miles and takes about 7h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Houghton-Hancock Lift Bridge, US 41 South, West Montezuma Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 246.2 miles from Dollar Bay, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $76.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 57m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dollar Bay, MI to Flint, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dollar Bay, 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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