Drive or Fly: New Buffalo, MI to Macomb, 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 MGC–DTW. At 240 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 31m

Distance

240.1 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

97 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$45

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 34m

24m in the air

Air Distance

203 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

52 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Buffalo, MI → MGC 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DTW → Macomb, MI 59m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

New Buffalo, MI MGC — Michigan City Municipal Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Macomb, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 39 mi, ~59m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MGC and DTW. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 46m on rail

Total Cost

$38

CO2

11 kg

Route

Wolverine

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Buffalo, MI → New Buffalo Amtrak (NBU) 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 286m

Arrival 10m

Troy Amtrak Station (TRM) → Macomb, MI 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $38) $38

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

Stations

From NBU — New Buffalo Amtrak 0 mi, ~10m drive

To TRM — Troy Amtrak Station 16 mi, ~24m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~12/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 12 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 29m

4h 55m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

10 kg

Route

Greyhound US0160

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Buffalo, MI → Benton Harbor Bus Stop (BNH6) 37m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 295m

Arrival 10m

Southfield Bus Stop (SHF6) → Macomb, MI 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From BNH6 — Benton Harbor Bus Stop 25 mi, ~37m drive

To SHF6 — Southfield Bus Stop 21 mi, ~32m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 31m	3h 34m	6h	6h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$80	$183	$38	$18
Carbon footprint	97 kg CO₂	52 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂	10 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: Amtrak GTFS, 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 Jul 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

240.1 mi 4h 31m

via I 94, M 14, I 96

Alternative (+26 min)

265.1 mi 4h 57m

via I 69, I 196; US 31, I 96

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