Drive Time
12m
Distance
9.2 mi
15 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
Photo: Frank Krasznavolgyi
The drive from Flint, MI to Swartz Creek, MI covers 9.2 miles and takes about 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chevrolet-Buick Freeway, Miller Road, South Grand Traverse Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.6 miles on Chevrolet-Buick Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.40 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
4.6 miles from Flint, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6m into the drive .
This is a 12m highway drive covering 9.2 miles, with most of the trip on Chevrolet-Buick Freeway and Miller Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 6.6 miles on Chevrolet-Buick Freeway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chevrolet-Buick Freeway and Miller Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near M 21 / East Court Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 12m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 0.3 miles (South Grand Traverse Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 69 / Chevrolet-Buick Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn uturn onto M 21 / East Court Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 69 / Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Miller Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Miller Road
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet-Buick Freeway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Miller Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Grand Traverse Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Court Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Flint, MI and Swartz Creek, MI.
Start on this road
Turn uturn onto M 21
Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 69
Take the exit
Turn right onto Miller Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 9.2 miles or 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.6 miles or 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swartz Creek, MI than in the middle of the route.
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 9.2 miles and 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.6 mi from Flint, MI · 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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.
A short stop after about 9.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 4.6 miles from Flint, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Swartz Creek, 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 Swartz Creek, MI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$1.40 one way
$2.79 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.54 | $3.08 |
| premium | $4.80 | $1.74 | $3.47 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.04 | $4.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.97 | $0.44 |
| Efficient EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Flint on Saturday
Local time
7:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Swartz Creek on Saturday
Local time
7:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
47°F
Ann Arbor, MI
5 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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