Drive or Fly: Grand Rapids, MI to Mount Clemens, 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 GRR–DTW. At 169 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 9m

Distance

169.7 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 25m

17m in the air

Air Distance

144 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Grand Rapids, MI → GRR 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DTW → Mount Clemens, MI 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Mount Clemens, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GRR and DTW. 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 41m

3h 35m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2552

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 215m

Arrival 10m

Detroit Bus Station (DET6) → Mount Clemens, MI 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From 5GR — Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) 6 mi, ~10m drive

To DET6 — Detroit Bus Station 21 mi, ~31m 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	3h 9m	3h 25m	4h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$126	$15
Carbon footprint	69 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

169.7 mi 3h 8m

via I 69, I 96, I 75

Alternative (+6 min)

169.9 mi 3h 15m

via I 96, I 696, West 10 Mile Road

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