Drive or Fly: Stevensville, MI to Grand Rapids, 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–GRR. At 88 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 40m

Distance

88.2 mi

Total Cost

$54

CO2

36 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$19

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

2h 58m

9m in the air

Air Distance

79 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Stevensville, MI → SBN 35m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GRR → Grand Rapids, MI 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Stevensville, MI SBN — South Bend International Airport 24 mi, ~35m drive

Grand Rapids, MI GRR — Gerald R. Ford International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SBN and GRR. 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

3h 20m

2h 20m on rail

Total Cost

$14

CO2

4 kg

Route

Pere Marquette

Door-to-Door Timeline

Stevensville, MI → St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 140m

Arrival 10m

Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station → Grand Rapids, MI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Amtrak Station 7 mi, ~10m drive

To Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station 1 mi, ~10m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 40m	2h 58m	3h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$54	$123	$14
Carbon footprint	36 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂	4 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

88.2 mi 1h 40m

via I 196; US 31, I 196, I 94

Alternative (+14 min)

103 mi 1h 54m

via US 131, I 94

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