Drive or Fly: Buckeye, 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

4h 21m

Distance

207.9 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

84 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 37m

18m in the air

Air Distance

147 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buckeye, IL → PIA 49m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Elgin, IL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Buckeye, IL PIA — General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

94.7%

Cancellation

5.4%

+ 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

9 kg

Route

Carl Sandburg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buckeye, IL → Macomb Amtrak Station (MAC) 31m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 176m

Arrival 10m

Naperville Amtrak Station (NPV) → Elgin, IL 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From MAC — Macomb Amtrak Station 21 mi, ~31m drive

To NPV — Naperville Amtrak Station 19 mi, ~29m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 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 21m	3h 37m	4h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$181	$32
Carbon footprint	84 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	9 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 Oct 22, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

207.9 mi 4h 21m

via IL 110, I 74, IL 97

Shortest (+3 min)

194.3 mi 4h 25m

via IL 29, I 80, IL 71

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