Drive or Fly: Troy, MI to Gaines, 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–FNT. At 170 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 44m

Distance

170.7 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 33m

15m in the air

Air Distance

122 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Troy, MI → MKG 62m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FNT → Gaines, MI 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Gaines, MI FNT — Bishop International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKG and FNT. 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

4h 30m

2h 15m on road

Total Cost

$10

CO2

5 kg

Route

FlixBus 2552

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 135m

Arrival 10m

Flint (Miller Rd) (5FI) → Gaines, MI 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

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

To 5FI — Flint (Miller Rd) 12 mi, ~18m 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 44m	3h 33m	4h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$125	$10
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	31 kg CO₂	5 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

170.7 mi 3h 44m

via I 96; M 37, I 69, M 37; M 46

Alternative (+10 min)

176 mi 3h 54m

via I 69, US 127, BUS US 127

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