Origin
Saint Clair Shores, MI
Afternoon in Saint Clair Shores on Wednesday
Local time
3:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Clair Shores, MI to Flint, MI
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
68.6 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Clair Shores, MI
fish socks
Trip Overview
This 68.6-mile drive from Saint Clair Shores, MI, to Flint, MI, is a straightforward trip designed for a single day. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 18 minutes on the road, navigating primarily via the North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, Walter P. Reuther Freeway, and UAW Freeway. With 95% of the journey on highways, this is a focused drive through the Midwest region of Michigan. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, and with no recommended stops, it's a quick point-to-point journey. This route is ideal for a day trip, allowing you to easily reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
34.3 miles from Saint Clair Shores, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This highway-focused drive offers a consistent experience for most of its 68.6 miles. You'll be on high-speed freeways for approximately 95% of the trip, making for a direct and efficient journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 48.7 miles, found on the North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway. While primarily a highway experience, the route transitions smoothly between different freeway designations, maintaining a steady pace. Expect a predictable driving environment as you move through Michigan's landscape.
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.
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 48.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway and Walter P Reuther 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 Jefferson Avenue.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 68.6 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 (Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles (I-696 West to I-75 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Jefferson Avenue
Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
11.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
7
11.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I-696 West to I-75 North
Keep slight right at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 North toward I 75 North: Flint
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 75 North: Flint
8
61.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 111
Toward I 475: Downtown Flint
6
68.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
M 21 / East Court Street
Turn left onto M 21 / East Court Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway | 48.7 mi | 52m |
| Walter P Reuther Freeway | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| UAW Freeway | 6.5 mi | 6m |
| East 11 Mile Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| I-696 West to I-75 North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Court Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chavez Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jefferson Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
— 48.7 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Clair Shores, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on this road
144 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue
129 ft
·
5 sec
·
Jefferson Avenue
3
Turn right onto East 11 Mile Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
East 11 Mile Road
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 696 West
5
Merge onto I 696
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Walter P Reuther Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 18
Toward I 75 South, I 75 North: Detroit, Flint
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I-696 West to I-75 North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-696 West to I-75 North
Toward I 75 North: Flint
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 75 North: Flint
9
Merge onto I 75
49 mi
·
52 min
·
North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475
6.5 mi
·
6 min
·
UAW Freeway
Exit 111
Toward I 475: Downtown Flint
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward M 21: Downtown
12
Continue on M 21
386 ft
·
17 sec
·
Chavez Drive
13
Turn left onto M 21
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Court Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left
68 ft
·
6 sec
15
Turn right
93 ft
·
6 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this route's short duration of just over an hour, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider leaving in the mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush hour traffic in the Detroit metro area. Since there are no specific stops recommended and the longest stretch is under 50 miles, you can easily complete this drive without needing a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, with an estimated cost of $11; however, topping up before you leave Saint Clair Shores is always a good idea to ensure a smooth arrival in Flint. The seamless highway transitions mean you can focus on enjoying the direct journey.
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 34.3 miles from Saint Clair Shores, MI, or about 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.7 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 68.6 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.3 miles or 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 6m
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 Saint Clair Shores, 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 Saint Clair Shores, MI
This is one driving day of about 68.6 miles and 1h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Clair Shores, 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 North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway for about 48.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.3 mi from Saint Clair Shores, MI · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 68.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.3 miles from Saint Clair Shores, 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
$10.72 one way
$21.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.78 | $23.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.20 | $26.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.15 | $30.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.20 | $3.29 |
| Efficient EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.60 | $4.39 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Flint, MI
Afternoon in Flint on Wednesday
Local time
3:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 8 mph
94% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 7:33PM EDT until April 21 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 7:33PM EDT until April 18 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI
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
12 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
1h 18m 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 Saint Clair Shores, MI to Flint, MI covers 68.6 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Walter P. Chrysler Freeway, Walter P Reuther Freeway, UAW 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 34.3 miles from Saint Clair Shores, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.72 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 13 significant decision points across 68.6 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: near the start (Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles (I-696 West to I-75 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Saint Clair Shores, MI to Flint, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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