Origin
Flint, MI
Afternoon in Flint on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Flint, MI to Dafter, MI
Drive Time
4h 45m
Distance
272.8 mi
439 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
Trip Overview
Traveling from Flint to Dafter covers 272.8 miles and requires approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Because this route relies on local roads like East Court Street, Saginaw Street, and East Third Street rather than major interstates, it functions best as a focused, one-day trip. You should budget about $41 for fuel to complete the journey. While both cities are located within the Midwest, the drive takes you from the central industrial heart of Michigan toward the northern reaches of the state. It is a straightforward trip that works well if you prefer local roads over high-speed highway travel.
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
136.4 miles from Flint, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate away from Flint. With a 0% highway share, you will be steering through a series of local transitions rather than settling into a monotonous interstate cruise. The route maintains a consistent pace, though the reliance on local streets means you will experience more frequent stops and turns than a typical long-distance freeway trek. Because the road conditions shift frequently, you will find this drive feels much more engaged and hands-on than a standard transit route. Keep your eyes on the navigation, as the lack of highway miles makes the path through these local corridors the defining characteristic of your trip.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 45m 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 Dafter, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Court Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Saginaw Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Third Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chavez Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 475 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| UAW Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| M 28 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Soo Line Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Court Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flint, MI and Dafter, 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
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
13
Turn left onto South Soo Line Road
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Soo Line Road
14
Turn right onto West 10 Mile Road
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 10 Mile Road
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Plan to set aside a full day for this 272.8-mile journey to ensure you can manage the turn-heavy nature of the local roads comfortably. Since you are sticking to local streets, allow for at least one planned stop to break up the nearly five-hour duration. Because your total fuel cost is estimated at $41, try to fill your tank before you leave Flint to avoid hunting for stations while navigating the more localized stretches of the route. If you find yourself tiring, remember that the lack of highway segments means you have more flexibility to pull over in smaller towns along the way. Stay alert for the frequent turns required by the local road layout to keep your travel time as close to the 4h 45m estimate as possible.
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 136.4 miles from Flint, MI, or about 2h 22m 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 80 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.4 miles or 2h 22m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dafter, 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 272.8 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 136.4 mi from Flint, MI · 2h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.4 miles from Flint, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dafter, MI
The final approach into Dafter, 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 Dafter, 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
$41.44 one way
$82.87 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $45.68 | $91.36 |
| premium | $4.80 | $51.50 | $103.00 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $60.61 | $121.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
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, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.8 | 1 | $28.64 | $13.09 |
| Efficient EV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.87 | $10.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.1 | 1 | $38.19 | $17.46 |
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.
Destination
Dafter, MI
Afternoon in Dafter on Sunday
Local time
3:21 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
4h 45m 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 Dafter, MI covers 272.8 miles and takes about 4h 45m 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 136.4 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 $41.44 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 45m 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 Dafter, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Flint, MI to Dafter, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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