Drive or Fly: Sterling Heights, MI to Somerset, 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 DTW–TOL. At 104 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 3m

Distance

104.1 mi

Total Cost

$58

CO2

42 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$23

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 59m

9m in the air

Air Distance

78 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sterling Heights, MI → DTW 45m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TOL → Somerset, MI 65m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Sterling Heights, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

Somerset, MI TOL — Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport 43 mi, ~65m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DTW and TOL. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 7m

1h 53m on rail

Total Cost

$13

CO2

4 kg

Route

Wolverine

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sterling Heights, MI → Troy Amtrak Station 13m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 113m

Arrival 10m

Jackson → Somerset, MI 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From Troy Amtrak Station 9 mi, ~13m drive

To Jackson 14 mi, ~21m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~18/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 41m

1h 35m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

Greyhound US0160

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sterling Heights, MI → Southfield Bus Stop (SHF6) 20m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 95m

Arrival 10m

Jackson Bus Stop (JAC6) → Somerset, MI 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From SHF6 — Southfield Bus Stop 13 mi, ~20m drive

To JAC6 — Jackson Bus Stop 14 mi, ~21m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 3m	3h 59m	3h 7m	2h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$58	$123	$13	$7
Carbon footprint	42 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	4 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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

104.1 mi 2h 2m

via I 94, M 14, I 696

Shortest (+3 min)

97.8 mi 2h 6m

via US 12, I 696, M 14

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