Drive or Fly: Lake Orion, MI to Macomb, 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 FNT–DTW. At 17 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

31m

Distance

17.8 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

7 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4

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 44m

2m in the air

Air Distance

15 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lake Orion, MI → FNT 43m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DTW → Macomb, MI 59m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Lake Orion, MI FNT — Bishop International Airport 29 mi, ~43m drive

Macomb, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 39 mi, ~59m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FNT 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 32m

12m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

Wolverine

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lake Orion, MI → Pontiac Amtrak Station 16m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 12m

Arrival 10m

Troy Amtrak Station → Macomb, MI 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From Pontiac Amtrak Station 11 mi, ~16m drive

To Troy Amtrak Station 16 mi, ~24m 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	31m	3h 44m	1h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$39	$121	$2
Carbon footprint	7 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	0 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

17.8 mi 31m

via 25 Mile Road, Orion Road

Alternative (+3 min)

19.8 mi 34m

via 25 Mile Road

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Lake Orion, MI to Macomb, MI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.