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Trip from Flint, MI to Clarkston, MI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

32m

Distance

27.6 mi

44 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 29m ★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Clarkston, MI, MI

Clarkston, MI

Clara Alave

Trip Overview

This straightforward 27.6-mile drive from Flint to Clarkston, Michigan, should take you about 32 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $4, it's an economical journey. The route is heavily focused on highways, with 94% of the drive on these faster roads, including a significant 19.3-mile stretch on I-75. This drive stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent experience. Given its short distance and duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays; it's a quick hop between two Michigan communities.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 27.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for this 27.6-mile trip, as indicated by the 94% highway share. You'll spend most of your time on I-75 and the UAW Freeway, covering a longest continuous stretch of 19.3 miles on I-75. This means a relatively fast-paced drive with minimal distractions. The transition to North Main Street in Clarkston will likely involve a shift to more local road conditions as you reach your destination. It's a route designed for efficiency rather than scenic detours.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 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 19.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and UAW Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 27.6 miles you will encounter 8 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (M 21 / East Fifth Street): Navigation decision point; at 26.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | M 21 / East Fifth Street

At end of road, turn left onto M 21 / East Fifth Street

Navigation decision point

8
26.6 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the exit toward M 15: Davison, Clarkston

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 91 Toward M 15: Davison, Clarkston
6
27 mi into trip | ~30m in | M 15 / North Main Street

Turn right onto M 15 / North Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
27.6 mi into trip | ~32m in | East Washington Street

Turn left onto East Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 19.3 mi 20m
UAW Freeway 6.7 mi 7m
North Main Street 0.6 mi 1m
East Fifth Street 0.2 mi <1m
East Washington Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 19.3 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

93 ft · 9 sec · this road
2

Turn right

335 ft · 29 sec
3

At end of road, turn left onto M 21

0.2 mi · 29 sec · East Fifth Street
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
5

Merge onto I 475

6.7 mi · 7 min · UAW Freeway
6

Merge onto I 75

19 mi · 20 min · I 75
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 57 sec
Exit 91 Toward M 15: Davison, Clarkston Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn right onto M 15

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
Use the right lane.
9

Turn left onto East Washington Street

84 ft · 2 sec · East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
10

Arrive at destination

East Washington Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.31 one way

$8.63 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $4.74 $9.48
premium $4.89 $5.31 $10.62
diesel $5.61 $6.09 $12.19

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.3 0 $2.90 $1.32
Efficient EV 6.9 0 $2.42 $1.10
EV Truck/SUV 11 0 $3.86 $1.77

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Flint, MI

Evening in Flint on Thursday

Local time

7:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 5 to 8 mph 94% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 7:33PM EDT until April 21 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 7:33PM EDT until April 18 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

Destination

Clarkston, MI

Evening in Clarkston on Thursday

Local time

7:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

2 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

32m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Clarkston, MI covers 27.6 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, UAW Freeway, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.8 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 $4.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 27.6 miles you will encounter 8 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (M 21 / East Fifth Street): Navigation decision point; at 26.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Flint, MI to Clarkston, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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