Drive or Fly: Harbor Beach, MI to Popple, 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–MBS. At 23 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

33m

Distance

23.4 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

9 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$5

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

5h 13m

3m in the air

Air Distance

23 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harbor Beach, MI → MBS 112m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MBS → Popple, MI 78m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Harbor Beach, MI MBS — MBS International Airport 75 mi, ~112m drive

Popple, MI MBS — MBS International Airport 52 mi, ~78m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MBS and MBS. 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

4h 15m

46m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Blue Water

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harbor Beach, MI → Port Huron Amtrak Station 93m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 46m

Arrival 10m

Lapeer Amtrak Station → Popple, MI 76m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Port Huron Amtrak Station 62 mi, ~93m drive

To Lapeer Amtrak Station 51 mi, ~76m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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	33m	5h 13m	4h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$9
Carbon footprint	9 kg CO₂	6 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Harbor Beach, MI to Popple, MI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.