How far is Central Lake, MI from Flint, MI?

The driving distance from Central Lake, MI to Flint, MI is about 191.4 miles (308 km), with a travel time of about 03h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 162.3 miles (261.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
191.41 mi
03h 04m
Flight
162.3 mi
261.2 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Central Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
162.3 mi
Kilometers
261.2 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
191.41 mi
Kilometers
308.04 km
Drive Time
03h 04m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Flint
Sat, Apr 18, 6:19 AM EDT
Return by in Central Lake
Sat, Apr 18, 9:24 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Central Lake
2026-04-18T03:14
Arrive Flint
Sat, Apr 18, 6:19 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:05 AM to 11:05 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:50 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Central Lake
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
West Branch
MI

City Michigan

From Central Lake
95.6 mi
01h 32m
To Flint
95.8 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Saturday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W
Destination
70°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 16 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Central Lake and Flint.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Central Lake and Flint.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    18 m · 6 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West State Street

    43 m · 6 sec · West State Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1.1 km · 59 sec · South Main Street

  4. 4

    Continue on North M-88 Highway

    6.7 mi · 10 min · North M-88 Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on North Bridge Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · North Bridge Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto East Cayuga Street

    2804 ft · 47 sec · East Cayuga Street

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto Cayuga/Division Cutoff

    95 m · 5 sec · Cayuga/Division Cutoff

  8. 8

    Continue on South Division Street

    2502 ft · 42 sec · South Division Street

  9. 9

    Continue on South M-88 Highway

    10.2 mi · 14 min · South M-88 Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on West State Street

    2652 ft · 1 min · West State Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Maple Street

    81 m · 13 sec · Maple Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Williams Street

    15 m · 2 sec · South Williams Street

  13. 13

    Turn slight left onto Maple Street

    2306 ft · 46 sec · Maple Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Darragh Road

    10.8 mi · 19 min · Darragh Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Sigma Road Southeast

    2 mi · 4 min · Sigma Road Southeast

  16. 16

    Turn left onto M-72 East

    17.6 mi · 25 min · M-72 East

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North James Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · North James Street

  18. 18

    Take the exit straight toward I 75 South

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

    124.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on UAW Freeway

    10 mi · 11 min · UAW Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward M 21

    1294 ft · 32 sec

  22. 22

    Continue on Chavez Drive

    1218 ft · 35 sec · Chavez Drive

  23. 23

    Turn right onto East Court Street

    1317 ft · 32 sec · East Court Street

  24. 24

    Turn left

    21 m · 7 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right

    28 m · 7 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Central Lake and Flint.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
124 mi · 65%
M-72 East
17.6 mi · 9%
Darragh Road
10.8 mi · 6%
South M-88 Highway
10.2 mi · 5%
UAW Freeway
9.98 mi · 5%
North M-88 Highway
6.74 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 75

Keep slight left to continue on I 75: Saginaw, Detroit

124 mi · 02h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.1 mi
162.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Branch
01h 32m from Central Lake
Leave By
10:50 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Central Lake and Showers And Thunderstorms near Flint.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Central Lake to Flint?

The road trip is about 191.4 miles (308 km) and usually takes 03h 04m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

West Branch is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.6 miles from Central Lake and 95.8 miles from Flint.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 162.3 miles (261.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:50 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.45 one way or $50.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Central Lake and Showers And Thunderstorms near Flint.

Stop Ideas Near West Branch

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around West Branch, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to West Branch.

BUS

Tawas City, MI

56 mi away
1020 West Lake Street
BUS

Bay City, MI

80 mi away
1124 Washington Avenue
BUS

Manton, Michigan

92 mi away
Junction U.S. 131 & M-42
BUS

Cadillac, Michigan

93 mi away
1202 North Mitchell St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Central Lake and Flint. Straight-line distance: 162.3 mi (261.2 km).

Central Lake

#1 Central Lake

City in Antrim County, Michigan, United States of America

Population1,238
Coordinates45.0700000, -85.2645100
Altitude197
CountryUnited States
Flint

#2 Flint

The largest city in Genesee County, Michigan.

Population94,968
Coordinates43.0125300, -83.6874600
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Start: (-85.264705, 45.069998)
End: East Court Street (-83.687592, 43.012684)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 308 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.75 gal
25.57 L · about $25.45
Round trip
$50.91
13.5 gal · 51.14 L
Estimated CO2
60 kg one way
Round trip: 120 kg / 265 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.45 $50.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.71 $57.42
Premium $4.65 $31.41 $62.83
Diesel $5.30 $35.80 $71.60

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Michigan · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Central Lake and Flint. The current time is 03:14:27.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.