Drive or Fly: Astoria, IL to Naperville, 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

4h 6m

Distance

200.2 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

81 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 53m

19m in the air

Air Distance

158 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Astoria, IL → SPI 67m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Naperville, IL 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Astoria, IL SPI — Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

Naperville, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

94.9%

Cancellation

5.1%

+ 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

4h 36m

2h 56m on rail

Total Cost

$32

CO2

12 kg

Route

Carl Sandburg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Astoria, IL → Macomb Amtrak Station (MAC) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 176m

Arrival 10m

Naperville Amtrak Station (NPV) → Naperville, IL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From MAC — Macomb Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To NPV — Naperville Amtrak 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	4h 6m	3h 53m	4h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$181	$32
Carbon footprint	81 kg CO₂	40 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	95% 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

200.2 mi 4h 6m

via I 55; US 51, I 74, US 24; IL 9

Shortest (+8 min)

192.2 mi 4h 14m

via IL 29, I 80, IL 71

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