Drive or Fly: Berwyn, IL to Vandalia, IL?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for MDW–BLV. At 240 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 34m

Distance

240.9 mi

Total Cost

$94

CO2

97 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$59

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 49m

25m in the air

Air Distance

211 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Berwyn, IL → MDW 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BLV → Vandalia, IL 74m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Berwyn, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Vandalia, IL BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 49 mi, ~74m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MDW and BLV. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 48m

3h 25m on road

Total Cost

$22

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US0125

Door-to-Door Timeline

Berwyn, IL → Chicago Bus Station (CHD6) 12m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 205m

Arrival 10m

Effingham (EFF6) → Vandalia, IL 46m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $22) $22

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

Stations

From CHD6 — Chicago Bus Station 8 mi, ~12m drive

To EFF6 — Effingham 31 mi, ~46m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 10 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 34m	3h 49m	4h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$94	$183	$22
Carbon footprint	97 kg CO₂	54 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus 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 Oct 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

240.9 mi 4h 33m

via I 57, I 70, IL 50

Shortest (+16 min)

240.3 mi 4h 50m

via I 55, US 51, US 51 Business

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