Drive or Fly: Riverside, MI to Sterling Heights, 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 SBN–DTW. At 199 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 46m

Distance

199.2 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

80 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 56m

21m in the air

Air Distance

173 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Riverside, MI → SBN 50m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DTW → Sterling Heights, MI 45m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Riverside, MI SBN — South Bend International Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

Sterling Heights, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SBN 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 20m

4h 55m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Riverside, MI → Benton Harbor Bus Stop (BNH6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 295m

Arrival 10m

Southfield Bus Stop (SHF6) → Sterling Heights, MI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From BNH6 — Benton Harbor Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

To SHF6 — Southfield Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m 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	3h 46m	3h 56m	6h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$127	$18
Carbon footprint	80 kg CO₂	44 kg CO₂	12 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 13, 2026.

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