Origin
Flint, MI
Night in Flint on Thursday
Local time
10:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Flint, MI to Bear Lake, MI
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
3h 48m
Distance
183.9 mi
296 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 35m
★
6 AM
3h 48m
8 AM
4h 14m
10 AM
3h 57m
12 PM
3h 55m
3 PM
3h 58m
5 PM
4h 12m
8 PM
3h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bear Lake, MI
Zach LeBlanc
Trip Overview
The drive from Flint, MI to Bear Lake, MI covers 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 10, Cadillac Drive, I 75 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.9 miles on US 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.75 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
92 miles from Flint, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 48m. Total distance: 183.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Flint, MI to Bear Lake, MI covers 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 48m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near M 21 / East Court Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 183.9 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (M 21 / East Court Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (Saginaw Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
M 21 / East Court Street
Turn uturn onto M 21 / East Court Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Saginaw Street
Turn right onto Saginaw Street
Navigation decision point
5
47.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward US 10 West: Midland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 162B
Toward US 10 West: Midland
5
58.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10: Clare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 10: Clare
5
96.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
US 10
Take the exit onto US 10 toward US 10 WEST, TO M 115: Ludington, Cadillac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 10 WEST, TO M 115: Ludington, Cadilla...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Flint, MI and Bear Lake, MI, road signs point toward To M 115: Ludington, Cadillac and M 115: Cadillac.
To M 115: Ludington
96.9 mi in
|
~1h 42m
|
via US 10
Cadillac
96.9 mi in
|
~1h 42m
|
via US 10
M 115: Cadillac
104.5 mi in
|
~1h 50m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 56.9 mi | 56m |
| Cadillac Drive | 55.3 mi | 1h 16m |
| I 75 | 36.9 mi | 39m |
| Thirteen Mile Road | 15.4 mi | 28m |
| UAW Freeway | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| West M-115 Highway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Lake Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Mesick Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 56.9 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flint, MI and Bear Lake, MI.
1
Start on this road
93 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn uturn onto M 21
253 ft
·
17 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
483 ft
·
13 sec
·
Chavez Drive
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 475 North
7
Merge onto I 475
9.7 mi
·
10 min
·
UAW Freeway
8
Merge onto I 75; US 23
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 75; US 23
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 162B
Toward US 10 West: Midland
10
Continue on US 10
11 mi
·
11 min
·
US 10
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
US 10
Toward US 10: Clare
12
Take the exit onto US 10
7.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 10
Toward US 10 WEST, TO M 115: Ludington, Cadillac
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward M 115: Cadillac
14
Turn right onto M 115
55 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Cadillac Drive
15
Enter roundabout onto M 37; M 115
129 ft
·
1 sec
·
West M-115 Highway
16
Continue on M 37; M 115
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West M-115 Highway
17
Continue on M 37; M 115
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Mesick Avenue
18
Continue on M 115
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West M-115 Highway
19
Turn left onto Harlan Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Harlan Road
20
Turn right onto CR 600
15 mi
·
28 min
·
Thirteen Mile Road
21
Turn left onto US 31
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Street
22
Turn left onto Virginia Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Virginia Street
23
Turn right onto Stuart Street
525 ft
·
23 sec
·
Stuart Street
24
Arrive at destination
Stuart Street
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 92 miles from Flint, MI, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.9 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 40 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92 miles or 1h 37m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bear Lake, 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 183.9 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 56.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92 mi from Flint, MI · 1h 37m 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92 miles from Flint, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bear Lake, MI
The final approach into Bear Lake, 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 Bear Lake, 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
$28.75 one way
$57.50 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $31.57 | $63.13 |
| premium | $4.89 | $35.39 | $70.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.60 | $81.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.31 | $8.83 |
| Efficient EV | 46 | 0 | $16.09 | $7.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.6 | 0 | $25.75 | $11.77 |
Gas CO2
64 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
Bear Lake, MI
Night in Bear Lake on Thursday
Local time
10:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Wise, MI
92 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
9 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 48m 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 Flint, MI to Bear Lake, MI covers 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 10, Cadillac Drive, I 75. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92 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 $28.75 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 183.9 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (M 21 / East Court Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (Saginaw Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between Flint, MI and Bear Lake, MI, road signs point toward To M 115: Ludington, Cadillac and M 115: Cadillac.
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