Drive or Fly: Elgin, IL to Empire, 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 13m

Distance

156.4 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

63 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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 9m

15m in the air

Air Distance

122 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → ORD 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BMI → Empire, IL 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Empire, IL BMI — Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal 16 mi, ~24m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ 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

4h 55m

3h 50m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US0145S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → Elgin IL (ELG6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 230m

Arrival 10m

Bloomington-Normal (BLL6) → Empire, IL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From ELG6 — Elgin IL 2 mi, ~10m drive

To BLL6 — Bloomington-Normal 20 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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 13m	3h 9m	4h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$125	$12
Carbon footprint	63 kg CO₂	31 kg CO₂	7 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

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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

156.4 mi 3h 13m

via I 55, I 355, US 20

Shortest (+0 min)

143.9 mi 3h 14m

via I 55, IL 47, CR 83

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