Drive or Fly: Ann Arbor, MI to Vermontville, 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–LAN. At 89 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 54m

Distance

89.4 mi

Total Cost

$55

CO2

36 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$20

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 15m

8m in the air

Air Distance

70 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ann Arbor, MI → DTW 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LAN → Vermontville, MI 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Vermontville, MI LAN — Capital Region International Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DTW 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 54m

1h 29m on rail

Total Cost

$15

CO2

4 kg

Route

Wolverine

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ann Arbor, MI → Ann Arbor Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 89m

Arrival 10m

Battle Creek → Vermontville, MI 35m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From Ann Arbor Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Battle Creek 23 mi, ~35m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 54m	3h 15m	2h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$55	$123	$15
Carbon footprint	36 kg CO₂	18 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 — 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

89.4 mi 1h 54m

via I 96, US 23 BUS, East Vermontville Highway

Shortest (+2 min)

83.7 mi 1h 56m

via I 94, M 50, M 79

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