Drive or Fly: Grand Rapids, MI to Saint Louis, 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 GRR–MBS. At 80 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 43m

Distance

80.9 mi

Total Cost

$52

CO2

33 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$17

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 2m

7m in the air

Air Distance

62 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Grand Rapids, MI → GRR 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MBS → Saint Louis, MI 41m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Grand Rapids, MI GRR — Gerald R. Ford International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Saint Louis, MI MBS — MBS International Airport 28 mi, ~41m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GRR and MBS. 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

2h 54m

1h 10m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

FlixBus 2552

Door-to-Door Timeline

Grand Rapids, MI → Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) (5GR) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 70m

Arrival 10m

Lansing (Delta Center) (5LL) → Saint Louis, MI 69m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From 5GR — Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) 6 mi, ~10m drive

To 5LL — Lansing (Delta Center) 46 mi, ~69m 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	1h 43m	3h 2m	2h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$52	$122	$5
Carbon footprint	33 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	3 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

80.9 mi 1h 42m

via M 46, US 131

Alternative (+7 min)

81.6 mi 1h 50m

via M 57, US 131, CR 575

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Grand Rapids, MI to Saint Louis, MI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.