Drive or Fly: Sterling Heights, MI to Three Oaks, 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–MGC. At 228 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 14m

Distance

228 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

92 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$51

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 27m

23m in the air

Air Distance

191 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

49 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sterling Heights, MI → DTW 45m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MGC → Three Oaks, MI 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Three Oaks, MI MGC — Michigan City Municipal Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DTW and MGC. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 57m

4h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$38

CO2

13 kg

Route

Wolverine

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sterling Heights, MI → Troy Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 257m

Arrival 10m

New Buffalo Amtrak → Three Oaks, MI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $38) $38

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

Stations

From Troy Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To New Buffalo Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/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 10 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h 14m	3h 27m	5h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$183	$38
Carbon footprint	92 kg CO₂	49 kg CO₂	13 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 — 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 Sterling Heights, MI to Three Oaks, MI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.