Drive or Fly: Freeland, MI to Grand Rapids, 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 MBS–GRR. At 118 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 32m

Distance

118.4 mi

Total Cost

$61

CO2

48 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$26

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 34m

10m in the air

Air Distance

87 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Freeland, MI → MBS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 10m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GRR → Grand Rapids, MI 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Freeland, MI MBS — MBS International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

Grand Rapids, MI GRR — Gerald R. Ford International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MBS and GRR. 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

3h 43m

2h 5m on road

Total Cost

$10

CO2

5 kg

Route

FlixBus 2552

Door-to-Door Timeline

Freeland, MI → Flint (Miller Rd) (5FI) 63m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 125m

Arrival 10m

Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) (5GR) → Grand Rapids, MI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From 5FI — Flint (Miller Rd) 42 mi, ~63m drive

To 5GR — Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) 6 mi, ~10m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 32m	2h 34m	3h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$61	$123	$10
Carbon footprint	48 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂	5 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

118.4 mi 2h 31m

via M 46, US 127 BUS; M 46, M 47

Alternative (+6 min)

122.8 mi 2h 37m

via US 131, M 20, Buchanan Road

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Freeland, MI to Grand Rapids, MI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.