How far is Sands, MI from Flint, MI?

The driving distance from Sands, MI to Flint, MI is about 393.7 miles (633.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 297.9 miles (479.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
393.71 mi
06h 03m
Flight
297.92 mi
479.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sands.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
297.92 mi
Kilometers
479.45 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
393.71 mi
Kilometers
633.61 km
Drive Time
06h 03m

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 06h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Flint
Thu, Apr 23, 3:17 AM EDT
Return by in Sands
Thu, Apr 23, 9:20 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sands
2026-04-22T21:13
Arrive Flint
Thu, Apr 23, 3:17 AM EDT
Route Timing
06h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:04 PM to 1:34 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sands
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Indian River
MI

Census-designated place in Cheboygan County, Michigan

From Sands
196.7 mi
03h 01m
To Flint
197 mi
03h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW
Destination
66°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sands and Flint.

  1. 1

    Start on County Road NAP

    156 m · 25 sec · County Road NAP

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Flodin Road

    624 ft · 28 sec · Flodin Road

  3. 3

    Turn right

    3.2 mi · 5 min

  4. 4

    Turn right onto County Road 480

    3.4 mi · 5 min · County Road 480

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Cherry Creek Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Cherry Creek Road

  6. 6

    Continue on M-28

    35.8 mi · 42 min · M-28

  7. 7

    Continue on West Munising Avenue

    2.2 mi · 5 min · West Munising Avenue

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto Cedar Street

    838 ft · 23 sec · Cedar Street

  9. 9

    Continue on M-28

    35.1 mi · 42 min · M-28

  10. 10

    Turn sharp right

    17.3 mi · 21 min

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn left

    65.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge

    1819 ft · 44 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    94.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  14. 14

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

    124.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on UAW Freeway

    10 mi · 11 min · UAW Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward M 21

    1294 ft · 32 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on Chavez Drive

    1218 ft · 35 sec · Chavez Drive

  18. 18

    Turn right onto East Court Street

    1317 ft · 32 sec · East Court Street

  19. 19

    Turn left

    21 m · 7 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right

    28 m · 7 sec

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
21 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75
124 mi · 32%
I 75 South
94.4 mi · 24%
M-28
70.9 mi · 18%
UAW Freeway
9.98 mi · 3%
County Road 480
3.41 mi · 1%
West Munising Avenue
2.17 mi · 1%
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

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 03m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+95.8 mi
297.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Indian River
03h 01m from Sands
Leave By
11:52 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Sands and Sunny near Flint.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sands to Flint?

The road trip is about 393.7 miles (633.6 km) and usually takes 06h 03m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Indian River is a useful midpoint, sitting about 196.7 miles from Sands and 197 miles from Flint.

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

The direct path is about 297.9 miles (479.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 95.8 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $52.38 one way or $104.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 123.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sands and Sunny near Flint.

Stop Ideas Near Indian River

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Indian River, 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 Indian River.

BUS

Alanson, MI

14 mi away
7640 Burr Avenue
BUS

Pellston, Michigan

20 mi away
110 North US Highway 131
BUS

Petoskey, Michigan

28 mi away
301 West Mitchell St.
BUS

Cheboygan, MI

28 mi away
309 East State Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sands and Flint. Straight-line distance: 297.92 mi (479.45 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Sands

Human settlement in Michigan, United States of America

Population2,308
Coordinates46.4207700, -87.4068100
Altitude366
CountryUnited States
Flint

#2 Flint

The largest city in Genesee County, Michigan.

Population94,968
Coordinates43.0125300, -83.6874600
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Start: County Road NAP (-87.406682, 46.420779)
End: East Court Street (-83.687592, 43.012684)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 634 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.89 gal
52.59 L · about $52.38
Round trip
$104.76
27.78 gal · 105.18 L
Estimated CO2
123.4 kg one way
Round trip: 246.9 kg / 544 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $52.38 $104.76
Mid-grade $4.25 $59.07 $118.15
Premium $4.65 $64.64 $129.29
Diesel $5.30 $73.67 $147.35

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Sands and Flint. The current time is 21:13:28.

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.