According to Google Maps, it takes 3 hours and 54 minutes to drive from Ann Arbor to Chicago. That doesn't really specify where in Ann Arbor I'm starting, or where in Chicago I'm finishing, nor does it take into account the possibility of traffic (very likely), nor the likelihood of driving slightly above the speed limit (very possible). I can't really account for fluctuations in traffic and speed, but I can account for location. So if I specify that I was beginning at my apartment complex, and ending at the apartment in Downers Grove where I lived with my parents when I was two years old, Google Maps ups the time to 4 hours and 8 minutes.Compare:
10:35 Leave for the airport. It's a bit on the early side, but if I'm looking to leave on a school/work day in the middle of the morning, I'm more than happy just to have a ride at all.
11:05 Arrive at airport.
12:10 Board airplane.
12:35 Pull away from gate.
12:50 Take off.
12:35 (Central time now) Touch down on runway.
12:45 Deboard plane.
12:55 Walk across Terminal 3 to meet parents in Terminal 1.
1:15 Acquire rental car.
1:30 Introduce my parents to Potbelly for lunch.
2:00 Get on the freeway, headed for Downer's Grove
2:10 Realize we've missed our exit and decide we might as well loop through Chicago.
2:15 Get stuck in traffic.
3:30 Get unstuck.
3:45 Arrive at Downer's Grove.
3:55 Circle through the neighborhood as my parents try to remember how to find where they lived over a quarter of a century ago.
4:00 Arrive at what is now Courts of the Falling Waters (what a name!). I won't include the extra time we spent trying to figure out which of the dozens of look-alike buildings was the one we actually lived in.
TOTAL TIME ELAPSED: 6 hours 25 minutes
Okay, I know there are a lot of additional variables here. But even if I chop off everything after the airport, the time it took to fly and the time it would have taken to drive are really not that different. Huh. I've wondered that for a long time.
4 comments:
Hmmm...That IS interesting! Thanks for answering that question!
I do think it is faster to drive to Chicago than fly, you can leave on your own schedule, you don't have to deal with airport security, and possibly cheaper. However, even with speed, you should add at least an hour to account for construction near Ann Arbor, possible road conditions, and traffic approaching Chicago. And, it's quite likely that 2:10-4 in this scenario would have been the same driving or flying. So, 10:30-2:10 is about 5 hours. This could quite easily be judged as more or less tied.
In fairness, you have to subtract an hour (more or less) for the wrong turn and traffic jam (both of which may occur when driving as well).
To add to the plus side for flying--no wear and tear on your car and tires (big deal to me) and you can't settle back and enjoy a good book while driving, though I've seen a few people trying.
Now you must admit you saw a lot of interestings things along the way that you may have never been aware. Sound like you all a really good time.
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