Origin
Flint, MI
Afternoon in Flint on Thursday
Local time
4:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Flint, MI to Suttons Bay, MI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 7m
Distance
207.8 mi
334 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 54m
★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 34m
10 AM
4h 17m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
4h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Suttons Bay, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
The drive from Flint, MI to Suttons Bay, MI covers 207.8 miles and takes about 4h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, M 72, South West Bay Shore Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128.1 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.49 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
103.9 miles from Flint, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 207.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 7m highway drive covering 207.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and M 72. The longest continuous stretch is about 128.1 miles on I 75.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 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 128.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and M 72. You will hit about 21 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
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 207.8 miles you will encounter 21 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 138.7 miles (BL I 75): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 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
138.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
|
BL I 75
Take the exit onto BL I 75 toward I 75 Business Loop, M 72: Downtown Grayling, Traverse City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 Business Loop, M 72: Downtown Grayl...
5
164.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 2m in
|
US 131; M 72; M 66 / South Cedar Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 131; M 72; M 66 / South Cedar Street
Navigation decision point
6
191.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m in
|
South Union Street
Turn right onto South Union Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Suttons Bay, MI, road signs point toward M 72: Downtown Grayling and Traverse City.
M 72: Downtown Grayling
138.7 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via BL I 75
Traverse City
138.7 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via BL I 75
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 128.1 mi | 2h 10m |
| M 72 | 24.4 mi | 33m |
| South West Bay Shore Drive | 14.8 mi | 21m |
| UAW Freeway | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| East M 72 | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| M-72 West | 7.7 mi | 10m |
| US 31 North | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| East Eighth Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 128.1 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flint, MI and Suttons Bay, 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
38 mi
·
40 min
·
I 75; US 23
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
63 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 75; US 23
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
27 mi
·
27 min
·
I 75
11
Take the exit onto BL I 75
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
BL I 75
Toward I 75 Business Loop, M 72: Downtown Grayling, Traverse City
12
Turn left onto M 72; M 93
24 mi
·
33 min
·
M 72; M 93
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 131; M 72; M 66
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Cedar Street
14
Turn left onto M 72
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Mile Road Northwest
15
Continue on M 72
7.7 mi
·
10 min
·
M-72 West
16
Continue on M 72
7.2 mi
·
9 min
·
East M 72
17
Enter roundabout onto M 72
116 ft
·
1 sec
·
East M 72
18
Continue on M 72
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
East M 72
19
Enter roundabout onto M 72
88 ft
·
3 sec
·
East M 72
20
Continue on M 72
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East M 72
21
Turn left onto US 31; M 72
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
US 31 North
22
Continue on US 31; M 72
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Munson Avenue
23
Turn left onto East Eighth Street
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
East Eighth Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto South Union Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
South Union Street
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left onto US 31; M 37; M 72
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Grandview Parkway
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on M 22
15 mi
·
21 min
·
South West Bay Shore Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Continue on M 22
442 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Saint Josephs Avenue
28
Turn right onto East Madison Street
166 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Madison Street
29
Turn left onto North Front Street
339 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Front Street
30
Arrive at destination
North Front 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 103.9 miles from Flint, MI, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.1 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 46 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.9 miles or 1h 49m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suttons Bay, 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 207.8 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 I 75 for about 128.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.9 mi from Flint, MI · 1h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.9 miles from Flint, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.1 miles.
Arriving in Suttons Bay, MI
The final approach into Suttons Bay, 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 Suttons Bay, MI.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.49 one way
$64.97 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.67 | $71.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.99 | $79.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.88 | $91.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.3 | 0 | $21.82 | $9.97 |
| Efficient EV | 52 | 0 | $18.18 | $8.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.1 | 1 | $29.09 | $13.30 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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
Suttons Bay, MI
Afternoon in Suttons Bay on Thursday
Local time
4:41 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 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 Suttons Bay, MI covers 207.8 miles and takes about 4h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, M 72, South West Bay Shore Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.9 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 $32.49 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 207.8 miles you will encounter 21 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 138.7 miles (BL I 75): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Flint, MI and Suttons Bay, MI, road signs point toward M 72: Downtown Grayling and Traverse City.
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