Drive or Fly: Ann Arbor, MI to Livingston, 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–SBN. At 156 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 56m

Distance

156.5 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

63 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$35

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 19m

17m in the air

Air Distance

145 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ann Arbor, MI → DTW 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SBN → Livingston, MI 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Ann Arbor, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

Livingston, MI SBN — South Bend International Airport 21 mi, ~32m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DTW and SBN. 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

4h 19m

3h 30m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0160

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ann Arbor, MI → Ann Arbor (5AB) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 210m

Arrival 10m

Benton Harbor Bus Stop (BNH6) → Livingston, MI 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From 5AB — Ann Arbor 1 mi, ~10m drive

To BNH6 — Benton Harbor Bus Stop 9 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 56m	3h 19m	4h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$126	$15
Carbon footprint	63 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	8 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 Apr 15, 2026.

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