Drive or Fly: Detroit, MI to Kent City, MI?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for DTW–MKG. At 175 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 20m

Distance

175.6 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

71 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 22m

18m in the air

Air Distance

150 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Detroit, MI → DTW 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKG → Kent City, MI 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Detroit, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Kent City, MI MKG — Muskegon County Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DTW and MKG. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 34m

3h 25m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2552

Door-to-Door Timeline

Detroit, MI → Detroit Bus Station (DET6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 205m

Arrival 10m

Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) (5GR) → Kent City, MI 34m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From DET6 — Detroit Bus Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To 5GR — Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) 23 mi, ~34m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 20m	3h 22m	4h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$126	$15
Carbon footprint	71 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Detroit, MI to Kent City, MI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.