Drive or Fly: Cairo, IL to Waukegan, IL?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 46m

Distance

411.7 mi

Total Cost

$113

CO2

166 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$78

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 59m

45m in the air

Air Distance

377 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

96 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cairo, IL → PAH 34m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 45m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Waukegan, IL 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Cairo, IL PAH — Barkley Regional Airport 23 mi, ~34m drive

Waukegan, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 47m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 46m	3h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$113	$190
Carbon footprint	166 kg CO₂	96 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

411.7 mi 7h 46m

via I 57, I 57; US 51, I 94

Alternative (+35 min)

430.2 mi 8h 21m

via I 57, I 57; US 51, I 294

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