Drive or Fly: Mount Pleasant, MI to Troy, 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 AZO–MKG. At 98 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 23m

Distance

98.4 mi

Total Cost

$57

CO2

40 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$22

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

4h 11m

11m in the air

Air Distance

90 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mount Pleasant, MI → AZO 58m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKG → Troy, MI 62m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Mount Pleasant, MI AZO — Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport 39 mi, ~58m drive

Troy, MI MKG — Muskegon County Airport 41 mi, ~62m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AZO 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

4h 8m

1h 44m on rail

Total Cost

$10

CO2

3 kg

Route

Pere Marquette

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mount Pleasant, MI → Bangor Amtrak Station 18m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 104m

Arrival 10m

Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station → Troy, MI 86m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From Bangor Amtrak Station 12 mi, ~18m drive

To Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station 57 mi, ~86m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 57m

1h 50m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

FlixBus 2552

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mount Pleasant, MI → South Haven (MI) (5SH) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 110m

Arrival 10m

Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) (5GR) → Troy, MI 92m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From 5SH — South Haven (MI) 4 mi, ~10m drive

To 5GR — Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) 61 mi, ~92m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 23m	4h 11m	4h 8m	3h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$57	$124	$10	$5
Carbon footprint	40 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂	3 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, 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

98.4 mi 2h 23m

via B-31, I 196; US 31, 120th Avenue

Alternative (+3 min)

102.5 mi 2h 26m

via US 31; BL I 196, M 120, I 196; US 31

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Mount Pleasant, MI to Troy, MI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.