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Drive or Fly: Montague, 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 MKG–DTW. At 186 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 26m

Distance

186.5 mi

Total Cost

$76

CO2

75 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$41
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 15m

18m in the air

Air Distance

154 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montague, MI → MKG 27m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 18m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
DTW → Ann Arbor, MI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Montague, MI MKG — Muskegon County Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive
Ann Arbor, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKG 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 3h 26m 3h 15m
Total cost (1 person) $76 $126
Carbon footprint 75 kg CO2 39 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
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
186.5 mi 3h 26m

via I 96, US 23, US 31 BUS

Alternative (+9 min)
193 mi 3h 35m

via I 96, US 127, US 31 BUS

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