<p>I have this discussion constantly on the Detroit to Chicago run. Door to door by car is 4.5 hours, w/o weather and traffic delays. Train is 5.5 hours, if on time. Air is about 50 minutes. Every discussion includes fares for train or air, weather, arrival/departure time in Chicago, cost of travel from O’Hare/Midway into the city, …</p>
<p>The bogey man is sitting time at the air terminals and air traffic delays.</p>
<p>Totally depends on personal preference ~ and when it’s a family ~ and when others AREN’T paying attention ~ I have problems. I’m a planner, and do a lot of travel planning -airline tickets, hotels, car rental well ahead of time. Inevitably - and sometimes the day of the actual trip - someone in the family says, “hey, why don’t we do it this way instead”. example “Let’s drive instead of fly!” --what? suddenly it’s being seriously discussed. The morning of, not when I asked weeks before. eerrrr</p>