Drive or Fly: Troy, MI to Center Line, 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 MKG–DTW. At 232 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 40m

Distance

232.1 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

94 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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

4h 1m

21m in the air

Air Distance

174 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Troy, MI → MKG 62m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DTW → Center Line, MI 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Troy, MI MKG — Muskegon County Airport 41 mi, ~62m drive

Center Line, MI DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKG 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 48m

3h 35m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2552

Door-to-Door Timeline

Troy, MI → Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) (5GR) 92m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 215m

Arrival 10m

Detroit Bus Station (DET6) → Center Line, MI 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From 5GR — Grand Rapids (The Shops at Centerpoint) 61 mi, ~92m drive

To DET6 — Detroit Bus Station 11 mi, ~16m 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	4h 40m	4h 1m	5h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$182	$15
Carbon footprint	94 kg CO₂	44 kg CO₂	8 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 Troy, MI to Center Line, MI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.