Drive or Fly: Elgin, IL to Atwood, IL?

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

Driving wins

Medium

At this distance, driving is almost always faster and cheaper door-to-door.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 55m

Distance

192.5 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

78 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36

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 18m

19m in the air

Air Distance

155 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → ORD 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CMI → Atwood, IL 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Atwood, IL CMI — University of Illinois Willard Airport 19 mi, ~29m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

96.5%

Cancellation

3.5%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 15m

4h 50m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → Elgin IL (ELG6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 290m

Arrival 10m

Champaign Intermodal Trans Ctr (CPN6) → Atwood, IL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From ELG6 — Elgin IL 0 mi, ~30m drive

To CPN6 — Champaign Intermodal Trans Ctr 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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	3h 55m	3h 18m	6h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$71	$126	$15
Carbon footprint	78 kg CO₂	40 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	97% on-time

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 Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

192.5 mi 3h 54m

via I 57, US 20, I 294

Shortest (+14 min)

165.4 mi 4h 9m

via IL 47, CR 83, CR 6

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