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Trip from Flint, MI to Bay Mills, MI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 7m

Distance

286.2 mi

461 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 54m ★
6 AM
5h 7m
8 AM
5h 34m
10 AM
5h 17m
12 PM
5h 14m
3 PM
5h 18m
5 PM
5h 33m
8 PM
4h 59m

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

Downtown Bay Mills, MI, MI

Bay Mills, MI

Wolrider YURTSEVEN

Trip Overview

The drive from Flint, MI to Bay Mills, MI covers 286.2 miles and takes about 5h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Court Street, Saginaw Street, East Third Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.74 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

143.1 miles from Flint, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 286.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 7m 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 5h 7m drive with frequent turns across 286.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Court 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Flint, MI to Bay Mills, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Court Street
Saginaw Street
East Third Street
Chavez Drive
I 475 North
UAW Freeway
M 28
South M-221

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East Court Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on the route

92 ft · 11 sec · the route
2

Turn uturn onto East Court Street

253 ft · 18 sec · East Court Street
3

Turn right onto Saginaw Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Saginaw Street
4

Turn right onto East Third Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Third Street
5

Turn left onto Chavez Drive

482 ft · 14 sec · Chavez Drive
6

Take the ramp straight toward I 475 North

0.2 mi · 29 sec · I 475 North
7

Merge slight left onto UAW Freeway

9.7 mi · 10 min · UAW Freeway
8

Merge slight left

38 mi · 40 min
9

Keep slight left

63 mi · 1 hr 3 min
10

Keep slight left

159 mi · 2 hr 42 min
11

Take the exit slight right toward M 28: Newberry, Munising

0.4 mi · 1 min · M 28: Newberry, Munising
12

Turn left

7.7 mi · 8 min
13

Turn right onto South M-221

2.5 mi · 4 min · South M-221
14

At the end of the road, turn left onto West Lakeshore Drive

3.9 mi · 9 min · West Lakeshore Drive
15

Turn right onto South Bay Mills Point Road

1.0 mi · 3 min · South Bay Mills Point Road
16

Turn slight right onto South North Drive

82 ft · 4 sec · South North Drive
17

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 143.1 miles from Flint, MI, or about 2h 33m 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 63 miles or 1h 7m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 143.1 miles or 2h 33m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay Mills, MI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Flint, 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 Flint, MI

This is one driving day of about 286.2 miles and 5h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Flint, 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 143.1 mi from Flint, MI · 2h 33m into the drive

Downtown Otsego Lake, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Otsego Lake, MI

143 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

Skidway Lake, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Otsego Lake, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 143.1 miles from Flint, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bay Mills, MI

The final approach into Bay Mills, 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 Bay Mills, 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

$44.74 one way

$89.49 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $49.13 $98.25
premium $4.89 $55.08 $110.15
diesel $5.61 $63.19 $126.38

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 100.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 85.9 1 $30.05 $13.74
Efficient EV 71.6 0 $25.04 $11.45
EV Truck/SUV 114.5 1 $40.07 $18.32

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Flint, MI

Afternoon in Flint on Thursday

Local time

1:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bay Mills, MI

Afternoon in Bay Mills on Thursday

Local time

1:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

36°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

10 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

5h 7m 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 Flint, MI to Bay Mills, MI covers 286.2 miles and takes about 5h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Court Street, Saginaw Street, East Third Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 143.1 miles from Flint, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.74 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 5h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Flint, MI to Bay Mills, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Flint, MI to Bay Mills, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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