Trip from Howell, MI to Flint, MI

Drive Time

49m

Distance

38.8 mi

62 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 45m ★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Howell, MI, MI

Howell, MI

fish socks

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Howell to Flint, you are in for a quick 38.8-mile journey that typically takes about 49 minutes. This Midwest transit is best suited as a simple day trip, as it is far too short to justify an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize US 23, Highland Road, and the Chevrolet-Buick Freeway to navigate between these two Michigan cities. With a fuel budget of just $6, this is a highly economical route for commuters or casual travelers. Because the entire trip stays within the Midwest, you can expect a familiar landscape throughout the drive.

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

19.4 miles from Howell, MI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 68% of this trip involves high-speed driving. You will spend the bulk of your time on US 23, which features a long, uninterrupted 24.2-mile stretch that allows for steady cruising. The route transitions smoothly between local roads like Highland Road and the more substantial infrastructure of the Chevrolet-Buick Freeway as you approach your destination. While the drive is straightforward and efficient, the character of the road is strictly functional rather than winding or scenic. You will find it to be a predictable, no-nonsense commute that gets you where you need to be without unnecessary detours.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and Highland Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near M 59 / Highland Road.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 38.8 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: at 1.1 miles (M 59 / Highland Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

6
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | M 59 / Highland Road

Turn right onto M 59 / Highland Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
6
10.2 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward US 23 North: Flint

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward US 23 North: Flint
7
34.7 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron

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 I 69: Lansing, Port Huron
9
35 mi into trip | ~42m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron

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

Use the none lane. Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron
7
37.8 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward Saginaw Street, Downtown

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 Saginaw Street, Downtown

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Howell, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Port Huron along the way.

Port Huron

34.7 mi in | ~42m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 23 24.2 mi 25m
Highland Road 9.1 mi 12m
Chevrolet-Buick Freeway 2.1 mi 2m
North Michigan Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
West Fifth Street 0.3 mi <1m
South Grand Traverse Street 0.3 mi <1m
Harrison Street <0.1 mi <1m
East Court Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 23 — 24.2 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Michigan Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Michigan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Turn right onto M 59

9.1 mi · 12 min · Highland Road
Use the none lane.
3

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward US 23 North: Flint Use the left lane.
4

Merge onto US 23

24 mi · 25 min · US 23
Use the none lane.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Port Huron Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 69: Lansing, Flint, Port Huron Use the none lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 69 East: Flint, Port Huron
8

Merge onto I 69

2.1 mi · 2 min · Chevrolet-Buick Freeway
Use the none lane.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Toward Saginaw Street, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn left onto South Grand Traverse Street

0.3 mi · 36 sec · South Grand Traverse Street
11

Turn right onto M 21

0.3 mi · 48 sec · West Fifth Street
12

Turn left onto Harrison Street

382 ft · 20 sec · Harrison Street
13

Turn left onto M 21

235 ft · 9 sec · East Court Street
14

Turn left

68 ft · 6 sec
15

Turn right

93 ft · 6 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since the trip is under an hour, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move for a smoother ride. You will not need to plan for any scheduled stops along the way given the short duration and direct nature of the route. Be sure to keep an eye on your fuel gauge before setting out, as a quick $6 refill should cover your entire 38.8-mile trip with ease. Because the longest stretch is over 24 miles on US 23, make sure your vehicle is prepared for sustained highway speeds. Use this efficiency to your advantage by planning your arrival in Flint with plenty of time to spare.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 19.4 miles from Howell, MI, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.2 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 38.8 miles or 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 19.4 miles or 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 40m

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 Howell, 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 Howell, MI

This is one driving day of about 38.8 miles and 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Howell, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 23 for about 24.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19.4 mi from Howell, MI · 25m into the drive

Downtown Ann Arbor, MI, MI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ann Arbor, MI

19 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

Ann Arbor, MI to Flint, MI

54.5 mi · 1h 4m

Pacing Suggestions

Canton, MI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ann Arbor, MI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Howell, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.89 one way

$11.79 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $6.50 $12.99
premium $4.80 $7.32 $14.65
diesel $5.64 $8.62 $17.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.6 0 $4.07 $1.86
Efficient EV 9.7 0 $3.39 $1.55
EV Truck/SUV 15.5 0 $5.43 $2.48

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Howell, MI

Evening in Howell on Sunday

Local time

7:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Flint, MI

Evening in Flint on Sunday

Local time

7:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°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

4 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

49m 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 Howell, MI to Flint, MI covers 38.8 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 23, Highland Road, Chevrolet-Buick Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.4 miles from Howell, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.89 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 is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 38.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (M 59 / Highland Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Howell, MI to Flint, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Port Huron along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Howell, MI or browse trips ending in Flint, MI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MI road trips.

Explore maps for Howell, MI or Flint, MI on MapSof.net.