Trip from Harbor Springs, MI to Flint, MI

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 55m

Distance

217.5 mi

350 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 43m ★

6 AM

3h 56m

8 AM

4h 21m

10 AM

4h 5m

12 PM

4h 2m

3 PM

4h 6m

5 PM

4h 20m

8 PM

3h 48m

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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Harbor Springs, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

The drive from Harbor Springs, MI to Flint, MI covers 217.5 miles and takes about 3h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, UAW Freeway, M-68 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 184 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.00 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

108.7 miles from Harbor Springs, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 3h 55m highway drive covering 217.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and UAW Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 184 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 20 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 184 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and UAW Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 22.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 55m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 22.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 82.6 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 206.7 miles (I 475 / UAW Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

22.4 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the ramp toward I 75 South

Navigation decision point

Toward I 75 South

82.6 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | I 75

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

206.7 mi into trip | ~3h 42m in | I 475 / UAW Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 475 / UAW Freeway toward I 475: Downtown Flint

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 125 Toward I 475: Downtown Flint

216.7 mi into trip | ~3h 53m in

Take the exit toward M 21

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 7 Toward M 21

217.2 mi into trip | ~3h 54m in | M 21 / East Court Street

Turn right onto M 21 / East Court 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.

On the drive from Harbor Springs, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.

Detroit

82.6 mi in | ~1h 35m | via I 75

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 75	184 mi	3h 6m
UAW Freeway	10 mi	10m
M-68	9.1 mi	13m
Merritt Street	5.1 mi	8m
Harbor Springs-Petoskey Road	3.2 mi	4m
West Conway Road	2.5 mi	3m
East Main Street	0.9 mi	2m
South Straits Highway	0.9 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 75 — 184 mi, about 3h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on M 119

15 ft · 0 sec · West Bluff Drive

Continue on M 119

0.2 mi · 38 sec · State Street

Turn left onto M 119

0.9 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

Continue on M 119

3.2 mi · 4 min · Harbor Springs-Petoskey Road

Turn left onto West Conway Road

2.5 mi · 3 min · West Conway Road

At end of road, turn left onto US 31

5.1 mi · 8 min · Merritt Street

Turn right onto M 68

0.5 mi · 45 sec · Chicago Street

Continue on M 68

8.8 mi · 13 min · M-68

Turn left onto M 68

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Straits Highway

Turn right onto M 68

0.3 mi · 31 sec · M-68

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward I 75 South

Merge onto I 75

60 mi · 59 min · I 75

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

124 mi · 2 hr 7 min · I 75

Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

Keep slight right at fork onto I 475

10.0 mi · 10 min · UAW Freeway

Exit 125 Toward I 475: Downtown Flint

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 7 Toward M 21

Continue on Chavez Drive

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Chavez Drive

Turn right onto M 21

0.2 mi · 31 sec · East Court Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left

68 ft · 6 sec

Turn right

93 ft · 6 sec

Arrive at destination

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 108.7 miles from Harbor Springs, MI, or about 2h 2m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 184 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 108.7 miles or 2h 2m 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 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Flint, MI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Harbor Springs, 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 Harbor Springs, MI

This is one driving day of about 217.5 miles and 3h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Harbor Springs, 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 184 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 108.7 mi from Harbor Springs, MI · 2h 2m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Skidway Lake, MI

109 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.

Popular next leg

Skidway Lake, MI to Flint, MI

95.5 mi · 1h 45m

Pacing Suggestions

Evanston, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Skidway Lake, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.7 miles from Harbor Springs, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 184 miles.

Arriving in Flint, MI

The final approach into Flint, 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 Flint, 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

$34.00 one way

$68.01 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$37.33	$74.67
premium	$4.89	$41.86	$83.71
diesel	$5.61	$48.02	$96.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	65.3	0	$22.84	$10.44
Efficient EV	54.4	0	$19.03	$8.70
EV Truck/SUV	87	1	$30.45	$13.92

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Harbor Springs, MI

Morning in Harbor Springs on Wednesday

Local time

6:29 AM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Flint, MI

Morning in Flint on Wednesday

Local time

6:29 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SSW 2 to 9 mph 67% chance 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

7 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

3h 55m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Harbor Springs, MI to Flint, MI covers 217.5 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 75, UAW Freeway, M-68. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 108.7 miles from Harbor Springs, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.00 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 55m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

On the drive from Harbor Springs, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.

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