Drive or Fly: Menominee, MI to Ann Arbor, 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 ESC–DTW. At 472 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 48m

Distance

472.7 mi

Total Cost

$139

CO2

191 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$104

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 17m

33m in the air

Air Distance

275 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

70 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Menominee, MI → ESC 74m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DTW → Ann Arbor, MI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Menominee, MI ESC — Delta County Airport 50 mi, ~74m drive

Ann Arbor, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ESC and DTW. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 31m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

11h 38m

9h 55m on road

Total Cost

$29

CO2

15 kg

Route

FlixBus 2550

Door-to-Door Timeline

Menominee, MI → Green Bay Transit Center (GRB6) 68m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 595m

Arrival 10m

Ann Arbor (5AB) → Ann Arbor, MI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From GRB6 — Green Bay Transit Center 45 mi, ~68m drive

To 5AB — Ann Arbor 1 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	8h 48m	4h 17m	11h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$139	$186	$29
Carbon footprint	191 kg CO₂	70 kg CO₂	15 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

472.7 mi 8h 47m

via I 75, US 2, M 35

Alternative (+43 min)

499.4 mi 9h 31m

via I 94, I 43, US 41

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Menominee, MI to Ann Arbor, MI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.