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Trip from Flint, MI to Croton, MI

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 46m

Distance

151.5 mi

244 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 36m ★
6 AM
2h 47m
8 AM
3h 9m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 40m

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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township in Newaygo County, Michigan

Croton, MI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Flint, MI to Croton, MI covers 151.5 miles and takes about 2h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 96, Chevrolet-Buick Freeway, US 131 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.8 miles on I 96. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.69 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

75.8 miles from Flint, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 96 57.8 mi 1h 1m
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway 46 mi 47m
US 131 20.2 mi 21m
Cypress Avenue 8.7 mi 11m
I 69 7.2 mi 7m
22 Mile Road Northeast 4.3 mi 6m
East 72nd Street 2.4 mi 3m
South Grand Traverse Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 96 — 57.8 mi, about 1h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

93 ft · 11 sec · this road
2

Turn uturn onto M 21

0.3 mi · 47 sec · East Court Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
3

Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street

0.3 mi · 41 sec · South Grand Traverse Street
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
5

Merge onto I 69

46 mi · 47 min · Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 25 sec
Toward US 127: Clare, Lansing Use the slight right lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 39 sec
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 39 sec
9

Merge onto I 69

7.2 mi · 7 min · I 69
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 29 sec
Exit 81 Toward I 96 WEST: Grand Rapids
11

Keep slight left at fork

1.3 mi · 1 min
Exit 81 Toward I 96 WEST: Grand Rapids
12

Merge onto I 96

52 mi · 55 min · I 96
Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 96; M 37

5.7 mi · 6 min · I 96; M 37
Toward I 96 West, M 37 North: Muskegon Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec
Exit 31B Toward US 131 North: Cadillac, Big Rapids Use the slight right lane.
15

Merge onto US 131

20 mi · 21 min · US 131
Use the slight right lane.
16

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward Sand Lake
17

Turn left onto 22 Mile Road Northeast

4.3 mi · 6 min · 22 Mile Road Northeast
18

Continue on Cypress Avenue

8.7 mi · 11 min · Cypress Avenue
19

Turn left onto East 72nd Street

2.4 mi · 3 min · East 72nd Street
20

Turn right onto Croton Hardy Drive

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Croton Hardy Drive
21

Arrive at destination

Croton Hardy Drive

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.8 miles from Flint, MI, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.8 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 33 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 75.8 miles or 1h 20m 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 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Croton, 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 151.5 miles and 2h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 96 for about 57.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Ionia County, Michigan, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ionia, MI

76 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

Haslett, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ionia, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.8 miles from Flint, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

That Early Bird

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Later in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 108.2

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16162588350

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Qahwah House Coffee - Grand Rapids

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Later in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 108.2

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+16162449419

Visit website

That Early Bird

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16162588350

Visit website

Stomping Grounds Coffee Shop

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 21.6

Durand, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+19895411550

Visit website

Qahwah House Coffee - Grand Rapids

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+16162449419

Visit website

Lotus Brew Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+16164198613

Visit website

Fireside Coffee Co

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 10.8

Swartz Creek, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18106359196

Visit website

Schuil Coffee Company

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+16169566815

Visit website

The Bradbury Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

Visit website

Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+16169200209

Visit website

Baker's Beanery

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+16169573110

Visit website

Sip Coffee & Cocktails

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+16168053517

Visit website

Sloan Museum of Discovery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Flint, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18102373450

Visit website

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+16169571580

Visit website

Flint Children's Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Flint, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18107675437

Visit website

Grand Rapids Escape Room

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 4–8 pm

+16164019441

Visit website

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Flint, Michigan

Hours: 12–8 pm

+18104078972

Visit website

Camelot Park

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 6:30 am–9 pm

+16164563232

Visit website

Fish Ladder Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 108.2

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+16164563696

Visit website

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 43.3

East Lansing, Michigan

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15178844800

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 115.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
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. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
7
46.9 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward US 127: Clare, Lansing

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 127: Clare, Lansing
6
55.9 mi into trip | ~59m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 96 WEST: Grand Rapids

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 81 Toward I 96 WEST: Grand Rapids
8
109.4 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | I 96; M 37

Keep slight right at fork onto I 96; M 37 toward I 96 West, M 37 North: Muskegon

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 96 West, M 37 North: Muskegon
8
115.1 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in

Take the exit toward US 131 North: Cadillac, Big Rapids

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 31B Toward US 131 North: Cadillac, Big Rapids

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.69 one way

$47.37 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $26.01 $52.01
premium $4.89 $29.15 $58.31
diesel $5.61 $33.45 $66.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 53 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.4 0 $15.91 $7.27
Efficient EV 37.9 0 $13.26 $6.06
EV Truck/SUV 60.6 0 $21.21 $9.70

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Flint, MI

Afternoon in Flint on Saturday

Local time

4:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Croton, MI

Afternoon in Croton on Saturday

Local time

4:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°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

2 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

2h 46m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

151.5 mi in 2h 46m, mostly highway — 57.8 mi of that is on I 96.

87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.8 mi on I 96.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 96 and Chevrolet-Buick Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near M 21 / East Court Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 151.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

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. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 Croton, MI, road signs point toward Lansing, M 37 North: Muskegon, Big Rapids and Sand Lake.

Lansing

46.9 mi in | ~49m

M 37 North: Muskegon

109.4 mi in | ~1h 56m | via I 96; M 37

Big Rapids

115.1 mi in | ~2h 2m

Sand Lake

135.6 mi in | ~2h 24m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 151.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 57.8 miles on I 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Croton, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (M 21 / East Court Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Croton, MI before heading back.

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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Return Trip

Croton, MI to Flint, MI

Plan the drive back the other way.

128.2 mi 2h 47m

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