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Drive or Fly: Detroit, MI to Tawas City, 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 28m

Distance

178.6 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

72 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38
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

4h 7m

16m in the air

Air Distance

136 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Detroit, MI → DTW 27m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 16m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
APN → Tawas City, MI 84m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Detroit, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive
Tawas City, MI APN — Alpena County Regional Airport 56 mi, ~84m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

89.6%

Cancellation

10.4%

+ Less physical fatigue
+ Predictable arrival time
− Airport security and check-in overhead
− Luggage fees and restrictions
− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 3h 28m 4h 7m
Total cost (1 person) $73 $125
Carbon footprint 72 kg CO2 35 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent 90% on-time
Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices
Flight data: Statistical estimate
Airports: OurAirports
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 Tawas City, MI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.