Drive or Fly: Alton, IL to Chicago, IL?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 28m

Distance

283.5 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

115 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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

29m in the air

Air Distance

244 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

62 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alton, IL → STL 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDW → Chicago, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Alton, IL STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Chicago, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.3%

Cancellation

0.7%

+ Saves about 2h 28m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 57m

4h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$49

CO2

16 kg

Route

Lincoln Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alton, IL → Alton Amtrak Station (ALN) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 257m

Arrival 10m

Chicago Union Station (CHI) → Chicago, IL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $49) $49

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

Stations

From ALN — Alton Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To CHI — Chicago Union Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 28m	3h	5h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$185	$49
Carbon footprint	115 kg CO₂	62 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak 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 Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

283.5 mi 5h 28m

via I 55, IL 140, College Avenue

Alternative (+17 min)

301 mi 5h 45m

via I 57, I 55, I 72; US 51

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.