Drive or Fly: Clear Lake, IL to Evanston, 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 9m

Distance

211.4 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

85 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40

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

2h 50m

22m in the air

Air Distance

182 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clear Lake, IL → SPI 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Evanston, IL 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Clear Lake, IL SPI — Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Evanston, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 12 mi, ~18m 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	4h 9m	2h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$182
Carbon footprint	85 kg CO₂	47 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 21, 2026.

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