Drive or Fly: Detroit, MI to Lakeview, MI?

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

Driving wins

Medium

At this distance, driving is almost always faster and cheaper door-to-door.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 24m

Distance

171.6 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36

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 45m

16m in the air

Air Distance

137 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Detroit, MI → DTW 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GRR → Lakeview, MI 62m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Lakeview, MI GRR — Gerald R. Ford International Airport 41 mi, ~62m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.0%

Cancellation

1.0%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

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) → Lakeview, MI 60m

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) 40 mi, ~60m 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 24m	3h 45m	5h
Total cost (1 person)	$71	$125	$15
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% on-time

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 Jun 3, 2026.

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