Drive or Fly: Union City, MI to Lansing, 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 AZO–LAN. At 65 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 17m

Distance

65.1 mi

Total Cost

$49

CO2

26 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$14

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 53m

7m in the air

Air Distance

55 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union City, MI → AZO 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LAN → Lansing, MI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Union City, MI AZO — Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AZO and LAN. 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

2h 33m

1h 17m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Blue Water

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union City, MI → Battle Creek 26m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 77m

Arrival 10m

East Lansing Amtrak Station → Lansing, MI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Battle Creek 18 mi, ~26m drive

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

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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 17m	2h 53m	2h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$49	$122	$9
Carbon footprint	26 kg CO₂	14 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: 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 Apr 19, 2026.

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