Drive or Fly: Plymouth, MI to Detroit, 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 RHI–DTW. At 590 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

9h 21m

Distance

590.7 mi

Total Cost

$166

CO2

239 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$131

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 54m

53m in the air

Air Distance

445 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

114 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plymouth, MI → RHI 94m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 53m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DTW → Detroit, MI 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Plymouth, MI RHI — Rhinelander Oneida County Airport 63 mi, ~94m drive

Detroit, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 27m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	9h 21m	4h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$166	$193
Carbon footprint	239 kg CO₂	114 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 12, 2026.

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