Drive or Fly: Southfield, MI to Mount Clemens, 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 DTW–DTW. At 26 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

39m

Distance

26.8 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

11 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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 25m

2m in the air

Air Distance

19 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

5 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Southfield, MI → DTW 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DTW → Mount Clemens, MI 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Southfield, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 19 mi, ~29m drive

Mount Clemens, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DTW 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

1h 31m

25m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0160

Door-to-Door Timeline

Southfield, MI → Southfield Bus Stop (SHF6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 25m

Arrival 10m

Detroit Bus Station (DET6) → Mount Clemens, MI 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From SHF6 — Southfield Bus Stop 2 mi, ~10m drive

To DET6 — Detroit Bus Station 21 mi, ~31m 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	39m	3h 25m	1h 31m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$2
Carbon footprint	11 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	1 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

26.8 mi 38m

via I 696, I 94, West 10 Mile Road

Shortest (+5 min)

26.3 mi 43m

via Metropolitan Parkway, West 10 Mile Road, I 75

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