Drive or Fly: Jamestown, MI to Grand Haven, 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–MKG. At 31 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

46m

Distance

31.8 mi

Total Cost

$42

CO2

13 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$7

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 39m

3m in the air

Air Distance

25 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jamestown, MI → GRR 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKG → Grand Haven, MI 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Jamestown, MI GRR — Gerald R. Ford International Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

Grand Haven, MI MKG — Muskegon County Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GRR and MKG. 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 16m

47m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Pere Marquette

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jamestown, MI → Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station 19m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 47m

Arrival 10m

Holland Amtrak Station → Grand Haven, MI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station 12 mi, ~19m drive

To Holland Amtrak Station 20 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 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	46m	2h 39m	2h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$42	$121	$5
Carbon footprint	13 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	1 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

31.8 mi 45m

via US 31, Quincy Street

Alternative (+10 min)

42.2 mi 56m

via I 96, I 196, M 104

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