Texaslady

we are flying into detroit this summer, en route to charlevoix. the flights to traverse city have really increased this year, so we need to find another way to charlevoix. how long will it take us to rent a car and drive from detroit to charlevoix? is there another form of transportation between the 2 cities? thanks for any help...

SuzieTrue

Coming into Detroit your only option is driving. Timing for the drive can vary especially in the summer - cone zones and Friday traffic. They already have US 10 around Midland down to one lane in each direction. Don't know about other construction. You do have a few choices as far as routes to try. Others may be able to give better information concerning the choices.

ST

Keith

Take a look at flying into other southern Michigan airports. I go to northern Michigan several times a year and haven't been in or through DTW in several years.

Grand Rapids and Flint are the two that usually work best, but I have also done Lansing and Bay City (MBS).

From my city, the prices are cheaper, the drive is shorter, and I avoid Detroit traffic.

This works particularly well if you are leaving from an airport served by Midwest Airlines. There are fewer missed flights going through Milwaukee instead of Chicago or Detroit.

Keith

SuzieTrue

Keith,
I never would have thought to recommend MBS [my home airport] but there is a flight from Minneapolis that is convenient. And I know flights into Flint can be cheaper as well. You could cut 1 [Flint] or 2 [MBS] hours off your drive.
ST

CDJD

If you do end up flying into DTW try at all costs to avoid traveling the freeways on a late Friday afternoon because it could take up to double the time driving. The northern part of the lower pennisula is extremely popular in the summer months and most locals travel "up north" every weekend. Traffic can be a nightmare at the "wrong" time. The best time is midweek during the early afternoon. Also try to avoid daily morning & evening rush hour times (only applies to city driving)

michigandra

I can't emphasize enough how correct CDJD is on summer travel on the weekends south-to-norht and then north-to-south. It seems as though everyone in SE Michigan heads "Up North" on Fridays and back on Sundays. We're probably heading up to the Upper Peninsula the week of July 4th and I'm seriously considering just taking a nap after work Friday the 27th and heading north at midnight or so just to avoid the bulk of the traffic!

jeenbean

Ditto on the traffic - once the husband and I sat in traffic so long we turned around and came back home. Travelling out of Grand Rapids to Charlevoix would be good -can drive M-31 all the way up (as long as no construction) - check the michigan.gov website under Travel and then Traffic and Construction to get details. Not too crowded of a highway either...

Enjoy!

mcmckissic1

These are all very good tips..we live south of Flint and the Bishop airport is wonderful, small and nice. I wwould try getting into there instead of yucky DTW. You are going to LOVE Charlevoix in the summertime! Be prepared for lots of people though.

kelliebellie

Have you priced Detroit to Pellston? The two are only 35 miles apart.

Keith

Pellston is more expensive, rental car rates are really outragous, and (although the airport itself is wonderful) has poor airine service.

Keith

travgina

I agree with others who say to avoid flying into Detroit if you can. Either Flint or MBS would be good. Charlevoix is about 165 miles NW of MBS, so barring too many cone zones, it would be about a 2-1/2 hour drive. From Flint, you'd have to add another 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic.

dmkujat

I have to concur with everyone who has posted here. Having lived in Petoskey 13 years and recently relocated back to the Detroit, I NEVER visit back there on summer weekends. The traffic is awful going north on I-75 friday nights (though this years gas prices may have some impact on that!). Pellston IS expensive, and Keith is right, the service there is bad. Pellston flights are few and far between and get cancelled a lot. Traverse city would be your best bet, as charlevoix is only an hour north of there, however, you have to weigh out the price of your rental car and gas prices combined with the aggravation of summer traffic. Me, personally, I would pay up to 200.00 extra just to avoid flying into DTW and driving north! If you can get a good price into Flint, that is a great airport, and only about 3 to 3.5 hours to Charlevoix.

sumi

Well, DTW is pretty far west of Detroit proper and to go toward Charlevoix, you would travel northwest from the airport, so you don't have to consider having to drive *through* Detroit at all.

The drive would be about 4 to 4-1/2 hours. Michigan roads are quite fast by national standards -- we drive 70 mph during "rush hour" without much thought.

If you google or mapquest the drive, I'd assume that they will have you go up I-275 to I-96 and that's the only potential rush-hour slowdown you will face.

JDaine

I am flying to Detroit in a couple weeks, on a Sunday, and driving up to Charlevoix. Need to know what places are good to stop at along the way. 13 year old son and 12 year old daughter, are big Man vs Food watchers. Looking for good lunch spot (american food) and any must see sights along the way.

Looking forward toa fun week in Michigan! Thanks for your help.

Keith

There are several MvF locations around Detroit, but none midway in your drive. http://www.manvsfoodlocations.com/mi...locations.html has the list and the only outstate location is at Grand Rapids.

For a neat place to stop that I think the kids will like, try the Keg of Nails in Grayling. http://www.spikes-grayling.com/

Keith

gardendiva

Depending on when you want to stop to eat, there is Tony's in Birch Run about 1.5 hours north of Detroit.