Origin
Flint, MI
Late night in Flint on Saturday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Flint, MI to Dayton, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
54.8 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dayton, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Flint, MI to Dayton, MI covers 54.8 miles and takes about 1h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sanilac Road, North Dort Highway, Gera Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.8 miles on Sanilac Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.57 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 54.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 25m drive with frequent turns across 54.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sanilac Road is the longest continuous segment at about 20.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 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 54.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (East Third Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Third Street
Turn right onto East Third Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 475 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 475 North
5
3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward M 54
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 9
Toward M 54
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Flint, MI to Dayton, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 54 along the way.
M 54
3 mi in
|
~4m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sanilac Road | 20.8 mi | 23m |
| North Dort Highway | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| Gera Road | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| South Gera Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| North Saginaw Road | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| South Hurds Corner Road | 3.5 mi | 13m |
| South Main Street | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| UAW Freeway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Sanilac Road
— 20.8 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flint, MI and Dayton, 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
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
UAW Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 9
Toward M 54
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
10
Turn straight onto M 54
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
North Dort Highway
11
Continue on M 54
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North Saginaw Road
12
Turn slight right onto M 54
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Clio Road
13
Continue on M 54
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Gera Road
14
Continue on M 83
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
South Main Street
15
Continue on M 83
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South Gera Road
16
Turn right onto M 46
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Holland Avenue
17
Continue on M 46
21 mi
·
23 min
·
Sanilac Road
18
Turn left onto South Hurds Corner Road
3.5 mi
·
13 min
·
South Hurds Corner Road
19
Arrive at destination
South Hurds Corner Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.4 mi from Flint, MI · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.4 miles from Flint, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dayton, MI
The final approach into Dayton, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.57 one way
$17.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.41 | $18.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.55 | $21.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.10 | $24.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.75 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.67 | $3.51 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Dayton, MI
Late night in Dayton on Saturday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
13 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
1h 25m 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 Dayton, MI covers 54.8 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sanilac Road, North Dort Highway, Gera Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.4 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 $8.57 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 54.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (East Third Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Flint, MI to Dayton, MI, road signs begin pointing toward M 54 along the way.
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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