Origin
Waterford, MI
Evening in Waterford on Sunday
Local time
7:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterford, MI to Flint, MI
Drive Time
32m
Distance
30.2 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Waterford to Flint, Michigan, you are in for a quick, 30.2-mile journey that typically takes about 32 minutes to complete. This trip is perfect for a simple day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate through the heart of the Midwest, relying on local roads like Graper Drive, Airport Road, and Andersonville Road rather than high-speed interstates. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $4, this route is an incredibly economical choice for commuters or casual travelers. Since there are no mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to make this a direct run or take your time as you move between these two Michigan hubs.
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
15.1 miles from Waterford, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Because the highway share for this 30.2-mile trip is 0%, you will spend your entire time navigating surface streets and local connectors. You won’t find long, straight stretches here, as the longest segment on Graper Drive is minimal, requiring your full attention through various turns. The route's personality is defined by these constant changes, making it feel more like a navigation exercise than a highway slog. It is a practical, ground-level way to experience the landscape between Waterford and Flint.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Graper Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Waterford, MI to Flint, MI is easy. At 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waterford, MI to Flint, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Graper Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Airport Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Andersonville Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dixie Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| UAW Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| M 21 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chavez Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Court Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Graper Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterford, MI and Flint, MI.
1
Start on David K Drive
0.1 mi
·
40 sec
·
David K Drive
2
Turn left onto Graper Drive
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Graper Drive
3
Turn left onto Airport Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Road
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto Andersonville Road
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Andersonville Road
5
At the end of the road, turn left onto Dixie Highway
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Dixie Highway
6
Take the ramp right
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
7
Merge slight right
18 mi
·
19 min
8
Keep slight right to continue on UAW Freeway
6.5 mi
·
6 min
·
UAW Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward M 21: Downtown
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
M 21: Downtown
10
Continue on Chavez Drive
387 ft
·
17 sec
·
Chavez Drive
11
Turn left onto East Court Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Court Street
12
Turn left
69 ft
·
7 sec
13
Turn right
92 ft
·
7 sec
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 32-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. You don't need to worry about complex refueling stops or long-haul rest breaks, as the $4 fuel cost makes it easy to fill up before you leave. Since the route relies entirely on local roads, keep a close eye on your GPS to stay on track through the various turns on Andersonville Road and Airport Road. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, ensure you are comfortable with frequent navigation changes rather than steady highway speeds. Taking this route during off-peak hours can help you avoid local traffic, making your transit between Waterford and Flint as efficient as possible.
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 15.1 miles from Waterford, MI, or about 16m into the drive.
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 30.2 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.1 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 27m
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 Waterford, 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 Waterford, MI
This is one driving day of about 30.2 miles and 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waterford, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.1 mi from Waterford, MI · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.1 miles from Waterford, 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
$4.59 one way
$9.17 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $5.06 | $10.11 |
| premium | $4.80 | $5.70 | $11.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.71 | $13.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.64 | $1.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Flint, MI
Evening in Flint on Sunday
Local time
7:49 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
32m 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 Waterford, MI to Flint, MI covers 30.2 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Graper Drive, Airport Road, Andersonville Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.1 miles from Waterford, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.59 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.
The drive from Waterford, MI to Flint, MI is easy. At 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waterford, MI to Flint, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waterford, MI to Flint, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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