Drive or Fly: Bethalto, IL to Elgin, 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 26m

Distance

272 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

110 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$51

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 29m

28m in the air

Air Distance

235 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

60 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bethalto, IL → STL 31m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Elgin, IL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Bethalto, IL STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 21 mi, ~31m drive

Elgin, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 20 mi, ~30m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 26m	3h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$184
Carbon footprint	110 kg CO₂	60 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

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

272 mi 5h 25m

via I 55, IL 47, Orchard Road

Alternative (+11 min)

291.9 mi 5h 37m

via I 55, US 51, IL 38

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