Drive or Fly: Lansing, MI to Ida, 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

1h 53m

Distance

98.3 mi

Total Cost

$56

CO2

40 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$21

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

2h 55m

9m in the air

Air Distance

76 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lansing, MI → LAN 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DTW → Ida, MI 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Lansing, MI LAN — Capital Region International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Ida, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 53m

3h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$18

CO2

5 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lansing, MI → East Lansing Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 215m

Arrival 10m

Toledo → Ida, MI 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From East Lansing Amtrak Station 3 mi, ~10m drive

To Toledo 19 mi, ~28m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 53m	2h 55m	4h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$56	$123	$18
Carbon footprint	40 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak 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

98.3 mi 1h 52m

via US 23, I 96, Ida West Road

Alternative (+5 min)

103.7 mi 1h 58m

via US 127, US 23, I 94

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